Caltex Malaysia expands STEM education initiative to Perak schools

• Programme expands to 10 Perak schools after successful implementation in Johor and Kelantan 
• Smart aquaponics systems give students hands-on STEM learning while promoting food sustainability

Building on the success of its smart aquaponics programme in Johor and Kelantan, Caltex Malaysia has expanded its Fuel Your School (FYS) initiative to Perak, bringing hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning and food sustainability to ten underfunded schools in the state.

Now in its eleventh edition, the community initiative is delivered in collaboration with the MyKasih Foundation and HAVVA Agrotech, and endorsed by the Ministry of Education. The programme equips schools with smart aquaponics systems that combine science, technology and sustainable farming, enabling students to gain practical STEM experience while promoting food security within their communities.

“Expanding to Perak was a natural progression as we continue to deepen the impact of our Fuel Your School programme,” said Leong Jee Wong, country chairman of Caltex Malaysia.

“We hope this initiative will inspire the next generation through hands-on STEM learning while promoting food sustainability. Through our previous Fuel Your School programmes, we have seen encouraging improvements in students’ engagement with science, while the aquaponics systems provide a practical solution that benefits schools and their communities. By supporting these 10 schools in Perak, we hope to help build more resilient communities while nurturing future STEM talent,” he added.

As part of the programme, Caltex Malaysia is installing specialised smart aquaponics systems in 10 selected schools across Perak. Unlike conventional farming, the systems use automated water circulation to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that integrates agriculture with technology.

To ensure long-term sustainability, HAVVA Agrotech will conduct food security workshops for teachers and students, equipping them with the knowledge to operate and maintain the systems. Each harvest cycle takes approximately six weeks.

Students will gain hands-on experience growing vegetables, herbs, microgreens and fruit plants while learning sustainable farming techniques and applying STEM concepts in a practical setting.

To support the programme beyond its initial implementation, each participating school has been adopted by a local Caltex service station retailer, which will provide ongoing support through workshops, community activities and school engagement initiatives.

Since its launch in 2012, Fuel Your School has benefited more than 112,473 individuals nationwide by improving access to STEM-based educational opportunities and learning resources.

Since introducing aquaponics under the programme in Johor in 2024 and Kelantan in 2025, participating schools have collectively harvested approximately 1,235kg of vegetables and 210kg of fish, demonstrating the programme’s contribution to both STEM education and food sustainability.

Teachers reported stronger student engagement and greater curiosity towards science through the programme.

“The smart aquaponics system has transformed the way our students learn and engage in 21st-century learning. It encouraged a shift towards student-centred learning, where students became more curious, asked more questions and conducted their own research instead of simply receiving information in the classroom,” said a teacher from one of the participating schools.

Students also welcomed the opportunity to work with technology they had not previously encountered.

“We were very excited and honestly a little surprised that our school now has a system that combines agriculture and smart technology. It feels like something we would normally only see on YouTube or at innovation exhibitions, but now we get to experience it ourselves,” said one student.

As Caltex Malaysia expands Fuel Your School across the country, the programme continues to combine STEM education with practical sustainability skills. Through long-term partnerships with schools and local communities, the initiative aims to inspire future innovators while strengthening food resilience at the grassroots level.