Kota Kinabalu: SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd is supporting a five-year educational initiative aimed at strengthening Mathematics and Science capabilities among Sabah students and preparing them for future careers in the energy industry and other technology-driven sectors.
The Sabah Gemilang Mathematics & Stem Programme (SabahGeMS), which runs from 2026 to 2030, seeks to improve students’ foundations in Mathematics and Science, encourage greater participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and expose young Sabahans to related career opportunities.
Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Dionysia Kibat said Sabah’s progress in the energy sector must be matched by investment in local talent, with the necessary capabilities developed early through strong foundations in Mathematics and Science. “If we want more Sabahans to participate meaningfully in the industries and technologies that will shape our future, we must build that capability early beginning with strong foundations in Mathematics and Science,” she said at the phase two opening ceremony. Her speech was read by Oil and Gas Services and Equipment (OGSE) Vice President Musti Juin.
Dr Dionysia urged students to embrace mistakes as part of learning, as she believed that their ambitions can be pursued through knowledge, patience and steady progress.
SabahGeMS focuses on three core components: STEM and career pathway awareness; Mathematics and Additional Mathematics intervention modules to strengthen foundational concepts and improve grades; and teacher empowerment through professional development, technology integration and approaches to improve student engagement.
The programme adopts a phased implementation approach, beginning with a pilot in Kota Kinabalu before expanding to Tuaran, while its activities are intended to be held twice annually throughout the five-year period.
The latest programme is being conducted from Oct 2 to 4 at SMK Pekan Telipok in Tuaran, involving 300 students comprising 150 Form Two and 150 Form Three students from 10 secondary schools in the district. Beyond academic performance, SabahGeMS aims to build students’ confidence, broaden their exposure to STEM education and career pathways and help them understand how the subjects they study today relate to future opportunities.
The initiative seeks to present STEM not merely as a collection of difficult school subjects, but as a pathway towards solving real-world problems and contributing to Sabah’s development. Teaching approaches and lessons developed through educational programmes outside Sabah are adapted to the State’s requirements and learning environment, with the longer-term ambition of strengthening local capabilities so that knowledge, experience and effective teaching methods can increasingly be developed and delivered within Sabah.
Meanwhile, Persatuan Alumni Universiti-Universiti Texas (Paut) president Mohamed Amin Abdullah said SabahGeMS was about creating opportunities for students, regardless of their backgrounds, to view Mathematics and Science as gateways to their future rather than barriers. “SMJ Energy’s role as our main sponsor is particularly significant because it demonstrates what can be achieved when industry invests early in talent development,” he said. “The students sitting in our classrooms today could be the engineers, scientists, researchers and technology leaders developing Sabah 20 years from now,” said Society of Petroleum Engineers Sabah Section Chairman Amir Sani Abdul Bak.
The programme’s longer-term objectives include improving Mathematics performance, encouraging greater participation in Science and STEM pathways and progressively expanding its reach through stronger collaboration among schools, educators, academia, professional bodies and industry.
SabahGeMS also aims to help prepare a workforce with the analytical, scientific and technical capabilities needed for the State’s future economy, including opportunities in engineering, technology, digitalisation, sustainability and other developing sectors.
