SABAH is strengthening education infrastructure, expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and accelerating artificial intelligence adoption as part of efforts to build a stronger skilled workforce and improve digital access across the State.
State Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib said the State Government remains committed to ensuring no student is left behind, particularly in narrowing the urban-rural education gap, improving internet access and providing better learning facilities in schools.
He said this in his ministry’s winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly.
James said there are no “dilapidated schools” in Sabah, but rather dilapidated school buildings which are being addressed in phases.
For 2025, he said RM11.55 million was allocated for scale six dilapidated building projects involving 13 schools currently under construction.
As of April 28, 2026, the Sabah State Education Department (JPNS) had also received RM94.7 million, while scale seven projects for 2026 involve 47 schools valued at RM1.047 billion under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
He said Sabah’s geographical challenges, especially in interior and island areas, continue to affect costs, logistics and implementation periods, requiring a phased and targeted approach.
KPSTI and JPNSare also working to improve basic school facilities and internet connectivity to support learning, particularly in rural areas.
On human capital development, James said the State Government is strengthening TVET through close collaboration with industries, including industrial training, curriculum development and expertise sharing to ensure students possess skills relevant to labour market demands.
He said the ministry, through the Human Resource Development Department, signed a memorandum of understanding with The Welding Institute on May 19, 2025, while Institut Latihan Teknik dan Perdagangan (ILTP) Papar is undergoing TWI certification and ISO 3834 recognition to improve global welding training standards.
“This will improve trainees’ employability in the oil and gas, metal and steel industries through the Train and Place programme,” he said.
He added that the department is also working with Universiti Kuala Lumpur to offer a Degree in Water Technology Engineering at ILTP Papar, with supporting infrastructure included under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
As added value for graduates, he said professional certification programmes in Software Development and Data Science are also being actively implemented to equip trainees with high-impact digital skills.
On digitalisation, James said KPSTI is implementing the Sabah AI Strategy Roadmap as a strategic direction for artificial intelligence adoption across the State Government in phases with strong governance.
He said two engagement sessions had been held so far, namely “Shaping Sabah’s AI-Driven Government: Leadership Dialogue” and “Mapping Sabah’s Tech Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Government Dialogue,” involving ministries, departments and agencies to identify priorities, readiness levels, challenges and opportunities for AI implementation.
He added that collaboration with Google Malaysia is also helping to promote AI use in public service delivery, including document preparation, analysis, workplace communication, dashboard development and specialised training in data science and AI for civil servants.
To improve classroom learning, James said the ministry is working to ensure every school in Sabah receives Smartboards as part of efforts to modernise teaching methods and make lessons more engaging.
“With sufficient facilities and proper teacher training, learning will become more enjoyable and students’ understanding can be improved, while opening their minds to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) and TVET, which are the Government’s focus today,” he said.
On digital infrastructure, he said four new telecommunication towers had been completed, 46 stations upgraded, and 2,046 out of 2,241 premises equipped with fibre optic access.
He added that 131 National Information Dissemination Centres (Nadi) had been established in Sabah under the One State Constituency, One Nadi initiative, including three centres in Bongawan, alongside 11 completed Point of Presence projects.
James said the State Government, through KPSTI, has also established the Digital Centre and IoT Sandbox at Wisma Bandaraya as an innovation incubator platform for youths and local start-up companies.
He said the ministry is also studying the expansion of such incubator centres and strengthening the role of e-Desa Centres as rural digital innovation hubs to close access gaps and reinforce education and TVET ecosystems based on industry needs.
A proposal to build a Desa Library building in Pulau Banggi has also been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan with an estimated cost of RM500,000, and implementation will be handled by the Sabah Public Works Department this year.
“KPSTI remains committed to advancing education, science, technology and innovation as well as human capital development to make Sabah a leader in innovation in Malaysia,” he said.
