We sympathise with students who are unable to continue their education because of poverty. Most of them are forced to drop out of school.
“Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul” means only people who are experiencing it know the real hardships.
Undeniably, financial resources are one of the main constraints of students from low income and underprivileged families in their quest of achieving a high level of education.
Early studies have proven that poverty is one of the factors that leads to students easily dropping out and falling victims of negative activities such as drug taking, illegal racing, vandalism, bullying, robbery and theft.
This is very worrying as there will be a loss of human capital as there will be a shortage of qualified manpower to develop our country.
To address the issue, the Sarawak Foundation (SF) has been tasked by the state government to provide assistance to our children in the process of obtaining education at secondary school level.
Various initiatives are introduced to students such as the School Uniform Voucher Assistance, the HIPERS Programme and Free School Bus Programme.
In conjunction with the efforts and responsibilities as the catalyst for educational development in the Land of the Kenyalang, SF has come out with various forms of assistance by introducing the Sarawak Foundation Local Scholarship (BTYS) to provide assistance to secondary school students.
Having a full commitment in providing this scholarship will help the low income, poor and underprivileged students get out of the poverty circle as well as support efforts to increase the country’s human capital.
BTYS is given to Form 2 to Form 5 students. The scheme is open to underprivileged secondary school students and will be offered annually to students who meet the criteria in the selection process.
In addition, BTYS can help in funding schools such as fees payment and purchasing essential equipment so that students can continue schooling as well as encourage students to improve in their academic performance.
The BTYS scheme has also been extended to excellent and active students in co-curriculum as a form of appreciation and encouragement.
BTYS gives priority to secondary school students. 
Primary school students are also given special approval based on support from their headmaster.
The scheme can also increase motivation and act as a stimulant for students from low-income families to always maintain excellent academic records and co-curricular activities throughout secondary school.
There are many students out there from low-income families who have the potential as well as excellent academic achievements but find it difficult to continue their studies due to financial constraints.
With the availability of this scholarship, it is hoped that it can help to some extent to ease the burden.
Among the conditions and criterion for the purpose of applying for BTYS are as follows:
• The application form will be distributed to schools through the Sarawak Education Department (JPNS) every year.
• The applicant must be a Malaysian citizen (Sarawak native).
• It’s open to secondary school students and priority is given to Form 2 students.
• Screening student selection is based on family per capita income that has been verified by the school.
• Students are not recipients of scholarships or financial assistance from the government or external parties.
• Students have no disciplinary problems in school.
• The fixed rate for Form 2 to Form 5 students is RM400 per student.
• Payment will be channelled to the school account under Kumpulan Wang Kerajaan.
Therefore, SF hopes that the approach in providing scholarship assistance will continue to help low-income parents to ensure that future generations can continue their learning in school without worrying about education cost.
In addition, this effort can also help to curb student dropouts due to poverty and provide opportunities for them to prove that even these students can get the highest education in life.
