Jom Sambung Belajar Selepas SPM” Mini Education Expo

Jom Sambung Belajar Selepas SPM” Mini Education Expo

In April 2026, students who had completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), as well as school leavers exploring their next steps, gathered in the small town of Kapit, Sarawak for the “Jom Sambung Belajar Selepas SPM” Mini Education Expo.

More than just an education fair, the expo was envisioned as a pioneering initiative to help bridge the information and access gap often experienced between rural and urban students. For many students in Kapit and the surrounding areas, opportunities to explore higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathways are not always easily accessible.

By bringing institutions directly into the rural community, students and parents were given the opportunity to engage face-to-face with education providers, ask questions, explore course offerings, and gain a better understanding of future academic and career possibilities.

The event was officiated by Mr Philip Anak Keling, Deputy District Education Officer of Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Kapit, together with Dr Lee Chee San, Chief Executive Officer of Lighthouse of Hope Sarawak.

A total of 10 institutions from across Sarawak participated in the expo:

• Yayasan Harapan Orang Sarawak (YAHOS)

• International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (ICATS)

• Kuching Skills College (Kuching Skills)

• Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak)

• Kolej Komuniti Sarikei (KK Sarikei)

• Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEX)

• Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak (JTK Sarawak)

• Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI)

• University of Technology Sarawak (UTS)

• Universiti Teknologi MARA Mukah Campus (UiTM Mukah)

The response from the community was encouraging. Based on the manual attendee sticker count, the event welcomed more than 500 attendees, comprising students, parents, and members of the local community.

How Did the Idea Start?

The idea for the expo came about through conversations over Chinese New Year lunch in February 2026 on how rural students could be given greater exposure to education opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings.

Compassi Berhad, together with Mr Jayapragas Gnaniah, Senior Lecturer at UNIMAS, Mr Walter Samat, and Dr Lee Chee San of Lighthouse of Hope Sarawak, worked together to plan and execute the event. Although the organising team was spread across different locations ie KL, Kuching and Kapit, the collaboration and teamwork throughout the planning process were remarkable given the short time we had!

Lighthouse of Hope Sarawak, as the venue sponsor, also mobilised student volunteers who helped tremendously with the pre-event preparations. The students even put together an opening dance and gambit performance that added colour and excitement to the event atmosphere.

Beyond the expo itself, the programme also opened doors for new connections and future collaborations between Lighthouse of Hope Sarawak, Compassi Berhad, and various participating organisations. There are already conversations about future activities and partnerships that could further benefit the community.

Reflections Moving Forward

As with any pilot initiative, the event also provided valuable lessons and reflections for future improvement.

One important takeaway was the need to engage more closely with Unit Bimbingan dan Kaunseling teachers from participating schools ahead of the event. Their involvement could help students prepare more purposefully before and after their examinations when considering future pathways.

Another area for improvement would be arranging transportation support for students staying in nearby boarding schools, enabling even more rural students to attend and benefit from the expo.

This may have been the first “Jom Sambung Belajar Selepas SPM” Mini Education Expo in Kapit — but certainly, we hope it will not be the last.

With the encouraging response received, we look forward to planning an even better and more impactful edition in 2027!