Yayasan Petronas adopts 50 schools under Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative
qistina.sallehuddin@nst.com.my
PUTRAJAYA: Yayasan Petronas has adopted 50 schools nationwide in the government's Sekolah Angkat Madani initiative, with a key focus on enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
Its chief executive officer, Nelly Francis, said the foundation's involvement is centred on schools that currently participate in its Duta Guru Programme (PDG), a long-term initiative aimed at strengthening STEM teaching and learning.
"Under this initiative, we have selected 50 schools out of the 1,000 nationwide that are already involved in our PDG.
"These schools were chosen based on specific criteria, including their active participation in our existing programmes," she told reporters when met after the launch of the initiative today.
The launch was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Nelly said priority was given to schools located in rural areas, with the majority of them in Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Johor, as well as several schools in Kedah, Perak and Kelantan.
As part of the support, she said teachers from the selected schools will undergo a two-year professional development programme designed to equip them with skills to cultivate students' interest in STEM and guide them towards pursuing careers in the field.
"It is not just about improving the teaching environment, but also inspiring students to view STEM as a viable and exciting career path," she said.
Apart from empowering teachers, Yayasan Petronas also runs programmes for students under the Student Innovation Centre, provides contributions to improve school science laboratories, and develops STEM hubs in six regions.
"We have completed STEM hubs in Tanjung Garam, Kuala Terengganu and Miri, Sarawak, while new hubs in Sabah, Johor, Melaka and Perak are currently under construction," she said.
Nelly said these STEM hubs serve as platforms for teachers to further refine and apply the skills gained through PDG, as well as collaborate with other educators in their districts to enrich classroom learning.
"All students in the adopted schools will be involved, particularly those who are pursuing STEM-related subjects," she said.
Nelly reaffirmed that advancing STEM education remains one of Yayasan Petronas' core missions.
"Right now, one of our key targets is to increase students' participation in STEM. We believe through sustained collaboration with teachers and schools, we can help shape the future of Malaysia's STEM talents," she said.
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