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SIPITANG: A two-day STEM outreach programme in Sabah’s remote Long Pasia is giving rural students greater exposure to science and technology while encouraging them to consider careers beyond their mountain community.
The STEM Beyond Borders programme, organised by the Sipitang District Education Office in collaboration with PETRONAS, brought together about 155 primary and 45 secondary students from five schools on Aug 20 and 21.
For 15-year-old McCoy Alexander of SK Long Pasia, the programme offered a glimpse of possibilities beyond the village. Inspired by an uncle working in the oil and gas industry, the Form Three student hopes to become an engineer and work on offshore oil platforms.
His classmate Esther Saran, who also enjoys science, dreams of becoming a fashion designer, drawing inspiration from the rivers, forests and landscapes surrounding Long Pasia.
SK Long Pasia headmaster Jeffry Padan said rural students had the same talent and potential as their peers elsewhere but needed greater exposure, experience and encouragement to discover what was possible.
“Overall, the outreach programme had a highly positive impact in raising students’ awareness of and interest in STEM,” he said, adding that students became more curious, engaged and eager to learn throughout the programme.
The programme featured an astronomy-themed session, including hands-on exposure to telescopes and a laser show after rain disrupted the planned stargazing activity.
“The laser show inspired a sense of wonder among the students and sparked their curiosity about physics and space science,” Jeffry said.
Tags: Sabah, Long Pasia, STEM, education, PETRONAS, Sipitang
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