TUARAN: Human capital development will continue to be a primary focus in the state's upcoming development phase under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 roadmap, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Speaking at SMK Sri Nangka's 25th Silver Jubilee Charity Dinner on Sunday night, he stressed that Sabah's true strength lies in its people, requiring a generation equipped with knowledge, technical skills, digital literacy, and strong moral values.
He noted that education must keep pace with global advancements by strengthening science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem), digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as technical and vocational education and training (Tvet).
To bolster educational accessibility, Hajiji highlighted that the state government raised its Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS) allocation to RM155 million this year from RM50 million in 2020, alongside introducing 14 student assistance initiatives between 2021 and 2025.
Reflecting on SMK Sri Nangka's history, the Chief Minister shared that he personally applied for the school's establishment in Sulaman and proposed its name after the historical area originally known to the local Bajau Sama community as Kampung Nangka, signifying strength and resilience.
