11 hours ago
Petrosains Discovery Rover makes exclusive Sabah stop to promote STEM to rural students
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has been chosen as the first and only state to host the Petrosains Discovery Rover this year, bringing the excitement of hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning directly to communities in remote areas.
The Petrosains Discovery Rover, a mobile exhibition truck equipped with interactive STEM exhibits, will tour over nine districts across the state.
Petrosains' chief executive officer, Ezarisma Azni Mohamad, said the initiative aims to ignite interest in STEM among students while upskilling teachers with tools and techniques for more engaging classroom delivery.
'Sabah is the first and only state to host the Discovery Rover this year, making this launch especially meaningful. We are committed to empowering students, particularly in rural and underserved areas, through quality STEM education,' he said at the programme's launching ceremony at SJK (C) Kuok Ming in Tawau on Saturday (June 21).
He added that the initiative reflects Petrosains' mission as a social impact arm of PETRONAS to democratise access to science and technology education and unlock opportunities for students regardless of geography.
The Discovery Rover features engaging activities, including Math Kit, to strengthen numeracy through interactive problem-solving, Drone Challenge to introduce flight principles and basic coding and Carbon-O-Polly, which focuses on carbon literacy and sustainability.
Other activities include Da Vinci Bridge, which combines physics and creativity in a challenge, Science Show to demonstrate scientific concepts in fun, accessible ways, and Teachers' Upskilling Sessions, aimed at enhancing classroom STEM delivery techniques.
The launch was officiated by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry's deputy permanent secretary II, Syahrin Samsir, on behalf of permanent secretary Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Mohd Kassim.
Also present were senior representatives from PETRONAS, the National Science Centre, and Petrosains.
The initiative is expected to reach over 5,000 students throughout Sabah, adding to the impact of Petrosains PlaySmart Kota Kinabalu, which has welcomed over 1 million visitors since its launch in 2012.
This effort is part of a broader commitment by PETRONAS to support education and human capital development in Sabah, through initiatives such as supporting science centre development in Tawau and Sandakan and rolling out the PETRONAS Education Sponsorship Programme (PESP) awareness campaigns.
It also aims to improve internet access for remote schools like SMK Wallace Bay, Pulau Sebatik, and empower STEM educators through Program Duta Guru, aiming to upskill 4,500 teachers by 2030.
PETRONAS also supports the WeHelp Programme, providing 17,190 scientific calculators to students statewide.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with two local technical colleges under the VISTA programme to boost vocational education and training opportunities.
The Sabah leg is part of the Kembara Sains Borneo series under National Science Week, which began in southern Sarawak and ended in Tawau.
Organised by the National Science Centre, with support from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and strategic partners including Petrosains, it aims to deliver hands-on science experiences to students in remote areas.
