Yayasan PETRONAS launches STEM Hub in Sipitang to boost Sabah STEM education

A Duta Guru (left) demonstrates the functionality of equipment at the Sipitang STEM Hub to Nelly (second from right), Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Matbali Musah (second from left), and PETRONAS Sabah and Labuan Regional Office General Manager Datuk Siti Ayu Abdul Wahab (right) during the launch of the facility.

SIPITANG: Yayasan PETRONAS, the social impact arm of PETRONAS, today launched the Program Duta Guru (PDG) STEM Hub at the Pusat Kegiatan Guru here to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Sabah, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The facility provides educators with a dedicated space to collaborate, access teaching resources and enhance STEM teaching, while modern technology and teaching tools will support the exchange of best practices and improved classroom instruction.

The Sipitang STEM Hub is the first facility completed under PDG Phase Two and strengthens the programme's support for teachers across Sabah. It joins existing STEM Hubs in Selangor, Sarawak and Terengganu, with the nationwide network set to expand to six hubs by the end of Phase Two, including two more in Melaka and Perak.

Yayasan PETRONAS Chief Executive Officer Shariah Nelly Francis said the initiative reflected the foundation's commitment to supporting educators as key enablers of quality STEM education.

"The PDG STEM Hub provides teachers, particularly Duta Guru, with access to facilities, teaching resources and professional development opportunities that support the effective delivery of STEM education.

"We hope the STEM Hub will serve as a collaborative learning space where teachers can exchange ideas, continuously enhance their knowledge and teaching practices, towards creating meaningful learning experiences for their students," she said.

PDG is a nationwide, multi-year initiative jointly driven by Yayasan PETRONAS and the Ministry of Education Malaysia through its Education Policy Planning and Research Division, with Teach For Malaysia as the implementation partner.

With Petrosains as the STEM Hub implementation partner, the programme aims to strengthen teachers' capabilities, particularly those serving schools with a high proportion of students from underserved communities.

To date, PDG has supported 358 STEM teachers across Sabah, of whom 209 have completed the programme and earned the title of Duta Guru.

The establishment of the Sipitang STEM Hub marks another milestone in efforts to strengthen Sabah's STEM education ecosystem and equip educators to nurture future-ready talent for the nation.