Kembara Sains Borneo draws 27,000, target within reach

SIBU: Kembara Sains Borneo (KBS) 2024 has attracted 27,000 students as of Sept 6.

Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry Secretary General, Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim said at this rate they might exceed their target of 35,000 students.

“Last year, we carried out a similar programme but in a different format, and we attracted 35,000 students from primary schools, secondary schools, and also youth.

“So, this year, we are aiming for the same number,” he said after his walkabout at the KSB 2024 programme at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Deshon here today (Sept 9).

He added that SMK Deshon was the fifth location for the programme in Sarawak after Miri and Bintulu.

“Next, we will move on to two more destinations, which are in Sri Aman and then Kuching, to conclude our three-month journey,” he added.

Aminuddin (3rd left) during his walkabout at KSB 2024.

Aminuddin visited one of the stations at KSB 2024.

He said that during the programme, he had received various feedback and ideas from local education departments, teachers, and students.

“We have received some important inputs for us to consider, and hopefully, for next year’s budget, I will submit them to the Ministry of Finance with several new proposals.

“We hope they will be accepted so that we can carry out more activities next year, in 2025,” he said.

KSB 2024 is a special programme organised by the National Science Centre (PSN) under the ministry’s Scitech4U initiative, serving as a platform to engage students and rural communities in Sabah and Sarawak.

This programme is specifically designed to engage students and rural communities, especially young people, to foster interest and increase the popularity of fields related to Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).

The uniqueness of KSB 2024 lies in its tour format, utilising the PSN Trooperz on the Move science exhibition bus, specially brought in from the National Science Centre.

The tour will cover 10 districts in Sabah and five districts in Sarawak, reaching 22 schools in the selected locations.