Powering Knowledge with Program Duta Guru

Stepping Up Teachers’ Training to Nurture Future Malaysian Engineers, Scientists

Kota Kinabalu, 4 March 2023 – Over 70 secondary school teachers from Sabah and Sarawak took part in a three-day Program Duta Guru regional training here, organised by Yayasan PETRONAS, which aims to strengthen the capabilities of educators in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) nationwide.

The training, which started on Thursday, culminated today with an intensive bootcamp utilising the Engineering Design Process (EDP) methodology, in which the teachers participated in simulations that required them to come up with an innovation project to address students’, schools’ or community pain points.

“Through EDP, these teachers undergo brainstorming, identifying problem statements as well as collaborating to develop learning prototypes. The EDP is a required step for the participating teachers to design and complete a STEM Innovation Module,” said Yayasan PETRONAS CEO Shariah Nelly Francis at the PDG Cohort 3 Regional Training’s closing ceremony.  

“The PDG regional training, specifically the EDP bootcamp today, ensures our future Duta Guru possess the knowledge and resources required to teach STEM subjects effectively. 

“It is also a key factor in ensuring that these educators can bring this experience to their students, schools and communities, and cultivate in-demand skills in a future that will significantly be powered by science and technology,” she added. 

Powering Knowledge through PDG – a nationwide industry-linked programme to strengthen the capabilities of 4,500 STEM teachers serving schools with a majority of B40 students by 2030 – is a collaboration between Yayasan PETRONAS and the Ministry of Education, through the Education Policy Planning and Research Division.

Since PDG’s launch in 2019, more than 250 teachers have been trained and upskilled in the two-year development programme. 

About Program Duta Guru
“Powering Knowledge” – Program Duta Guru, Yayasan PETRONAS’ signature education programme, is a joint initiative between Yayasan PETRONAS and Ministry of Education Malaysia through the Education Policy Planning and Research Division as well as Teach For Malaysia and Petrosains as implementation partners. It started in 2019 and aims to upskill 4,500 teachers nationwide in higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) to serve as role models in the delivery of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects to students.

Issued by: 
Yayasan PETRONAS