S’gor set to build on STEM take-up in 2027

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

The Selangor state government is focusing its 2027 budget on improving education support and boosting student engagement in STEM fields, including launching the Hipsters initiative to aid Form Six students with resources like book vouchers and free Internet access. These efforts aim to raise academic standards across the state's million-strong student population and foster greater community involvement, with plans to upgrade school infrastructure pending final budget decisions later this year.

The Selangor state government is prioritizing the enhancement of its education support system and increasing student participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) under its 2027 budget plan. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari highlighted the importance of maintaining academic excellence while creating opportunities for students to engage more deeply with STEM fields and community activities.

Speaking after the opening of the Gombak Form Six College and the 2026 Academic Excellence Awards ceremony in Gombak, Amirudin emphasized the scale of the initiative, noting that Selangor is home to about one million students. He indicated that raising academic standards and STEM involvement among this large student population could have a significant positive impact on society and the nation as a whole.

“In our budget, we will focus on examination results and STEM participation,” Amirudin said. He added that several new initiatives would be introduced to enable students to contribute meaningfully to their communities, underscoring the broader social benefits of educational advancement.

Regarding plans to upgrade school infrastructure, the Mentri Besar revealed that the state government is currently collecting data on the specific needs for improvements. The final budget allocation for these upgrades is expected to be determined by September or October.

Amirudin also introduced a new platform aimed at supporting Form Six students pursuing higher education called “Himpunan Pelajar Tingkatan Enam Selangor” (Hipsters). This initiative provides benefits such as book vouchers and free Internet data access to Form Six students. This year, 10,000 students received book vouchers—a notable expansion from previous years when similar support was limited to university students.

The Mentri Besar indicated that the state government is open to further expanding the Hipsters programme to more Form Six institutions in the future, contingent on demand and identified needs. The initiative forms part of Selangor’s broader strategy to strengthen educational outcomes and encourage more active participation in STEM disciplines.

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