Sabah’s RM164 million 13MP allocation targets TVET, STEM, agriculture and AI literacy to boost skills and innovation in education
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has allocated RM164.01 million for human capital development under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic) said the funding will focus on empowering Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
It will also promote agricultural training and advance digital technology with an emphasis on artificial intelligence literacy.
“Human capital development remains a priority under the state’s development programme as Sabah strives towards progress and excellence,” Hajiji said.
He added that the skills and youth development sector will be further strengthened through the expansion of scholarships and educational assistance.
Hajiji made these remarks in a speech officiating the Teacher Training Programme for the SMJ Robotics Competition at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Lok Yuk.
His text was read by Sabah Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib.
The Chief Minister stated the state government consistently supports efforts to provide more inclusive, high-quality education opportunities.
He emphasised fostering STEM and innovation as part of the learning culture in schools.
“We want to ensure that programmes like this run in an orderly manner, through close collaboration between the education sector, schools, communities, and strategic partners,” he said.
This approach ensures teachers receive appropriate support and students enjoy meaningful learning experiences.
Hajiji highlighted that teacher training is crucial for equipping educators with necessary skills and resources.
This enables students to master technology, build confidence, and develop practical innovations.
“This programme does not just introduce robotics as an additional activity, but it also has a more structured approach through an implementation model in schools,” he explained.
The model includes minimum infrastructure requirements, the use of robotics kits, learning platforms, and teacher training through Train-the-Trainer to ensure effective implementation.
Hajiji noted the use of the LEANBOT robotics kit as the main learning tool, together with physical training and simulations through Digital Twin. He said this offers students a practical and hands-on learning approach.
“It helps students learn through the experience of building, testing, making improvements, and ultimately understanding concepts more deeply, not just memorising theories,” he said.
The Sun Malaysia
