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Datuk Masidi said it is time the Government assist private higher learning institutions (IPTS) and not only focus on public higher learning institutions (IPTA). The State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister and Minister in charge of education matters in Sabah said the Government needs to look holistically into education development in the country, to enable the IPTS to progress in tandem with national development.

"A lot of government assistance is centred on the IPTAs, nothing wrong but probably now we can have the IPTA and IPTS develop togetherÉnow there are more students studying in the IPTS than IPTA," he said.

Masidi was speaking at the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) and Sidma College Sabah and Sarawak held at Le Meridien here Tuesday.

It was signed by Uniten Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Mashkuri Yaacob, SIDMA College Sabah CEO Prof. Dr Morni Kambrie and Haji Marzuki Haji Umi, CEO of SIDMA College Sarawak, and witnessed by Masidi and Datin Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Minister in Chief Minister's Office and Minister in charge of education in Sarawak, together with Uniten Chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie.

Masidi is also confident that the cost of education at both the IPTS and IPTA can be reduced further to a level that is affordable by all through a smart partnership between the IPTA and IPTS.

"I believe this can reduce not only the cost of education but also the Government's burden," he said.

On another development, Masidi also hoped Uniten will set up a branch campus in Sabah in future.

"The BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East Asean Growth Area) region actually offers a big future market potential for Uniten," he said.

The joint-venture in education between Uniten and Sidma College will start with offering college students foundation courses in Accountancy, Finance and Business Management.

This will be followed by Diploma-level courses in the said fields, according to Mashkuri, adding Sidma College is the first among several colleges which will sign a similar MoA with Uniten.

Presently there are 1,900 students at Sidma College Sabah, while at Sidma College Sarawak there are 1,066 students.

Morni also pledged that Sidma College Sabah will try its best to provide for its students so as not to shortchange them, by ensuring the college is equipped with the required facilities and reading materials that are promised to them.