BETONG: More than 300 pupils from schools across Betong converged at Sekolah Kebangsaan Abang Abdul Kadir on Tuesday (Jun 17) as the STEM Catalysts Raspberry Pi 2025 Tour made its seventh stop, igniting curiosity and excitement around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among rural students.
The travelling STEM carnival, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak, aims to foster early interest in STEM subjects-particularly among upper primary and lower secondary school pupils in underserved communities.
This year’s edition puts the spotlight on coding and Raspberry Pi, the compact computing device being used to demonstrate real-world STEM applications.
At today’s event, pupils from Primary 5, Primary 6 and Form 1 levels were given hands-on exposure to projects that brought textbook theories to life.
One of the main highlights was a demonstration of hydraulic systems controlled by Raspberry Pi, illustrating Pascal’s Law in action to lift heavy objects.
“This is about building a foundation. We must start now-instilling STEM awareness from the ground up so our children are future-ready in a technology-driven world,” said Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, who officiated at the event in his capacity as Layar assemblyman.
He also called for greater involvement from parents and local communities in nurturing STEM interest among young learners.
Representatives from Sarawak Skills, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and Sarawak Science Centre served as STEM communicators throughout the day, guiding pupils through each exhibit and breaking down complex concepts into engaging, interactive learning sessions.
A mini coding competition run by the Persatuan Kebajikan Rolf Schnyder added a competitive edge to the day’s activities, giving students a chance to test their newfound skills.
The STEM Catalysts tour, which launched in April 2025, is one of several initiatives under the state’s broader strategy to ramp up STEM enrolment.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to double STEM student intake from 30 per cent to 60 per cent in Sarawak over the coming years to meet the demands of a growing innovation economy.
As the tour continues, it will make its way to Lubok Antu and Simunjan, before reaching Kanowit, Song, and Kapit next week.
By the end of June, it is expected to reach over 100 schools, bridging the urban-rural STEM education gap one district at a time.
The Betong stop marks a pivotal halfway point in the tour, with rural schools at the forefront of this grassroots movement to inspire the next generation of coders, engineers and innovators in Sarawak.
