Some of the 520 students at the Discover PETRONAS @Schools programme.
KOTA KINABALU: A total of 520 students and 65 teachers took part in a programme held by PETRONAS aimed at raising awareness about the national oil company’s education sponsorship programme (PESP) in Sabah’s east coast Tawau district.
Held at SJKC Kung Ming on June 10, the Discover PETRONAS@Schools (DPS) also provided exposure to the Form 3 to 5 students from 23 schools in the district to careers in the oil, gas, and energy industry.
Besides that, the programme also highlighted PETRONAS' commitment in supporting the government's technical and vocational education and training (TVET) initiatives.
It gave students opportunities to explore various education pathways after their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations in collaboration with selected TVET institutions in Sabah.
One of the participants Daryn Chia, 17, from SM St Patrick, described the programme as immensely beneficial.
“The exhibitors skilfully presented their insights through demonstrations and numerous examples, thus enriching our understanding,” she said here.
“It allowed us to delve into topics that are not extensively covered in our school curriculum, such as robotics and drones by Petrosains.
"I now have a deeper understanding of these subjects,” she added.
Nur Hazwani Nurdin, 17, from SMK Pasir Putih, experienced a significant shift in her perception of PETRONAS after participating in the DPS Tawau 2023 programme.
“My previous perception of PETRONAS solely as an engineering entity has dramatically changed after attending this programme.
“I discovered my passion for drilling and was fascinated by the rocks unearthed during oil excavation.
“Wearing the official researcher attire fuelled my drive for success,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ummi Syazrina Munshi Abdullah, a teacher from SMK Balung, said they received a wealth of new information about the PESP and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) in the specially curated briefing session for guidance and counselling teachers.
“This session provided us with a unique opportunity for one-to-one interaction with PETRONAS staff, allowing us to ask questions we had about both the sponsorship and the institution.
“Such information will greatly assist us in effectively guiding our students towards pursuing further studies and careers after completing their SPM and STPM examinations,” she added.
Tawau deputy education officer (student development sector) Vaea Sarima commended the programme.
“I strongly advocate for the programme as it offers comprehensive information about PETRONAS' educational sponsorship, enabling students to make informed decisions about their educational and career paths,” he said.
Head of Human Capital Investment, PETRONAS Group Human Resource Management, Syed Mohammad Muhafiz Syed Mohd Bakar was also present.
To date, DPS has benefited over 25,000 students and teachers across the country.
