SEPANG: Teachers who graduated from the third cohort of the Program Duta Guru (PDG) will receive kits to start a mini science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) centre in their respective schools and a chance to receive a grant for their high-impact STEM projects.
Yayasan PETRONAS chief executive officer Shariah Nelly Francis said these initiatives were aimed at supporting the teacher ambassadors throughout their journey in improving the quality of STEM education in schools and post-programme communities.
"First, each duta guru (teacher ambassador), just like Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, will receive a STEM Kit package to help them catalyse STEM learning in their schools.
"The kit contains STEM education-related materials such as Arduino Set, 3D Pen and Organic Molecule Atomic Kit.
"Apart from that, through the feedback we received, the portable youth speaker, which has helped their teachers in running their classes, would also be provided together in the STEM kits that are to be sent directly to their schools in the near future.
"Second, we are inspired by the various projects and efforts of teacher ambassadors across Malaysia, who are collectively making a difference in their communities.
"Therefore, it is similar to what we launched last year, the 'Dana Duta Guru' (DG Funding), which is a special funding mechanism only for Teacher Ambassadors has been prepared," she said in her speech at the Graduation Ceremony of the third PDG cohort, which coincided with its 2023 National Symposium.
The DG Funding, worth no more than RM20,000 for one school, aims to finance high-quality projects undertaken by teacher ambassadors or a group of teacher ambassadors in line with PDG's objectives to increase students' STEM and higher-order thinking skills interest.
"I would like to remind you that every application will be carefully evaluated before funding can be approved and distributed accordingly.
"The proposed project must be impactful and sustainable to ensure that the funds can be fully utilised in the school and community."