Sarawak has 24 registered private schools: 10 international schools, 9 private primary schools, and 5 private secondary schools. There are no expatriate schools in the state. Unlike its East Malaysian neighbour Sabah, Sarawak’s private schools are not dominated by mission institutions. Instead, you find a mix of heritage schools with roots going back to the colonial era and newer international campuses that arrived in the 2010s.
Schools like Lodge International, St Joseph’s Private, and Sunny Hill are names that Sarawakian families have known for generations. They started as community schools run by churches or associations and have since expanded into fully registered private institutions. These heritage schools carry a certain loyalty. Parents who attended them often enrol their own children as a matter of course.
Private school curricula in Sarawak
Cambridge IGCSE is available at 6 schools, making it the most common international programme in the state. Another 3 schools follow the broader Cambridge International pathway at primary and lower secondary levels. The Malaysian national curriculum is offered privately at several schools, particularly the heritage institutions that blend English-medium instruction with the national syllabus.
You will not find the IB Diploma or A-Levels widely offered in Sarawak. Families who want those routes typically send their children to peninsula boarding schools or to Singapore after Year 11. This is one of the clearest gaps in Sarawak’s private school market: the post-IGCSE pathway options are limited if you want to stay local.
Private school fees in Sarawak
Sarawak is one of the most affordable states for private schooling in Malaysia. Published annual fees range from about RM1,200 to RM4,200, figures that would barely cover a single term at a premium KL international school. These low numbers reflect the nature of the schools: most are locally run institutions without the large campuses, imported teaching staff, or international accreditations that push fees up in the Klang Valley.
Even the international schools in Sarawak price themselves well below peninsula equivalents. The cost of living in Kuching and Miri is lower, land is cheaper, and the schools scale their fees accordingly. For details, see our fees page.
Key cities for private schools in Sarawak
The school map of Sarawak is essentially two dots and a lot of rainforest in between. Kuching, the state capital, has 14 schools, more than half the state’s total. This is where you will find the heritage names (Lodge, St Joseph’s, Sunny Hill) alongside newer international school campuses. Kuching’s school cluster covers the areas from Tabuan Jaya through the city centre to Batu Kawa.
Miri, the oil town on Sarawak’s northern coast, has 7 schools. Miri’s school market is tied to the petroleum industry. Shell and Petronas operations have long drawn expatriate families who need English-medium schooling. The international schools here cater partly to that crowd, though local enrolment has grown as Miri’s middle class expanded.
Sibu and Bintulu account for the remaining schools. Both are mid-sized towns along the Rajang River corridor, and their private school options are limited to one or two institutions each.
Choosing a private school in Sarawak
If you are in Kuching, you have enough schools to make a genuine choice. The decision usually comes down to whether you want a heritage school with local roots and lower fees, or a newer international school following Cambridge with a more globally oriented student body. Both types are within 20 minutes of most residential areas in the city. Kuching’s traffic is gentle compared to anything on the peninsula.
In Miri, the choice is simpler because there are fewer options. Visit the schools, compare the curriculum tracks, and check whether the school’s academic calendar aligns with your plans. Some Miri schools follow a September start to match Northern Hemisphere schedules, while others start in January.
For families in Sibu or Bintulu, the realistic option is usually the one school available locally, or boarding arrangements in Kuching. The 6-hour drive (or short flight) between Sibu and Kuching makes day-commuting impossible.
Sarawak schools generally have shorter waiting lists than their peninsula counterparts, so last-minute enrolment is more feasible here. Still, it is worth reaching out at least a term in advance. Our guides cover the standard enrolment steps and document requirements.