Hajiji said with the fund, the state could ensure that more Sabahan children get the chance to further their studies, whether in Malaysia or abroad.

“The setting up of the Sabah education fund is one of the initiatives under the 2015-2023 Yayasan Sabah Group Strategic Transformation Plan.

“It is also in line with one of the cores of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, which is to increase the development of human capital,” he said at a Teacher’s Day event today.

Last December, the state assembly unanimously passed a motion to allocate additional funds for education in Sabah. The new policy came into effect at the start of this year.

Hajiji said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) state government had implemented several measures to boost education in the state since taking over the administration.

This included distributing 10,000 laptops to Form 5 and 6 students and allocating RM13.9 million to provide uniforms, school shoes and stationery to more than 289,000 students.

He said the state government had distributed financial aid to more than 1,500 parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and provided computers to schools.

“We have also allocated RM47 million for non-Muslim religious bodies as well as vernacular schools, missionary schools and private schools this year.

“This is a reflection of the government’s sincerity to look after the interests of every race and religion in Sabah.”