Kota Kinabalu: A total of 50 students from rural Keningau and Beaufort were given a rare opportunity to broaden their horizons at the Education & Enrichment Expo 2025.
The students came from St. Maria Goretti Girls’ Hostel, Binaong, Keningau, and SK Batu 60, Beaufort — two schools that face unique challenges in providing access to quality education.
Organiser Precilla Fong said that for many of the girls from St. Maria Goretti, living away from their parents at a young age is already difficult — and most do not even own a mobile phone.
“On one hand, it keeps them focused on their studies, but on the other, it means they’re missing out on digital skills that today are almost basic requirements for jobs,” said Fong.
At SK Batu 60, which has only 75 students, classes are frequently disrupted by floods. Teachers often spend as much time on gotong-royong repairs as they do in classrooms.
Fong said the visit to the expo was an eye-opener for the students, many of whom have had limited exposure to career paths beyond becoming teachers, nurses, or doctors.
“It’s not that they lack ambition, but simply because they’ve never been exposed to other possibilities,” she said.
She stressed that while discussions often revolve around “big development plans” for Sabah, the reality is that many children in rural areas still struggle with the basics of quality education.
“Until this gap is bridged, it’s difficult to talk about true progress,” Fong added.
The expo, held over the weekend, brought together students, educators, families, and education providers in an interactive setting designed to inspire and empower.
For the rural students, it was a chance to discover new career paths and imagine a brighter future.
“For at least one weekend, these students saw new possibilities, new opportunities, and new hope,” said Fong.
