Malaysia Blue School Network

The National Coordination for Malaysia was officially established in 2025.

Blue School Malaysia at a Glance by July 2026:

13 schools onboard (11 primary schools and 2 secondary schools).
More than 250 students directly engaged through Blue School programmes, including the pilot implementation, Marine Camp, citizen science, and partner programmes.
More than 20 teachers trained through Blue School Malaysia professional development programmes.

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Description

Blue School Malaysia is the national coordination of the UNESCO-IOC Blue School Global Network (BSGN) in Malaysia, dedicated to embedding Ocean Literacy within formal education while empowering young Malaysians to become informed, responsible, and active ocean stewards. Coordinated by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), the initiative brings together schools, universities, government agencies, NGOs, educators, local communities, and industry to transform how ocean science is experienced in classrooms and beyond.

Our vision is to cultivate a generation of Malaysians who understand the fundamental relationship between people and the ocean and are equipped to make informed decisions for a sustainable future. Through locally relevant, project-based, interdisciplinary learning, Blue School Malaysia connects students with the marine environments that shape their communities while contributing to the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

By combining science, creativity, local knowledge, and active citizenship, Blue School Malaysia provides students with opportunities to learn about the ocean, learn through the ocean, and ultimately take meaningful action for the ocean.

As the national coordination, Blue School Malaysia welcomes schools, educators, organisations, and partners across the country to join a growing movement that connects Malaysian classrooms to a global network working towards the ocean we need for the future we want.

History of success

Blue School Malaysia successfully piloted a comprehensive Ocean Literacy programme with the support of The Habitat Foundation, Yayasan Hasanah, Amanah Lestari ALAM, and Dali Philanthropies involving 100 primary school students from five coastal schools and 20 teachers from Terengganu. Teachers first underwent professional development with the help of academicians from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, and NGO partners from Ecoswed Initiative, Sustainable Ocean Alliance Malaysia, and Reefcheck Malaysia before leading students through immersive marine learning experiences using the Sea4Seekers modules. Students explored coastal ecosystems, marine biodiversity, microscopy, marine debris, and citizen science before developing their own school-based ocean initiatives.

The programme culminates in each participating school establishing a Blue School Gallery and participating in the Ocean Pitch Challenge, ensuring that learning continues well beyond the camp itself. This model demonstrates how teacher empowerment can create long-term institutional change within schools.

Other initiatives

Blue School Malaysia has evolved beyond a school certification programme into a national ecosystem for Ocean Literacy, connecting formal education with universities, industry, NGOs, government agencies, and local communities. Through this collaborative approach, students are provided with authentic opportunities to learn, explore, and take action for the ocean while developing skills relevant to the future blue economy.

One of our unique initiatives is the Blue School Malaysia Curatorial Volunteer Club, coordinated by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). The programme prepares university students to become science communicators and museum educators through training in marine biodiversity surveys, scientific collection management, database management, and exhibition development. These volunteers subsequently support Blue School activities, mentor younger students, and help schools establish interactive ocean galleries, creating a sustainable pathway for youth leadership in Ocean Literacy.

Blue School Malaysia also works closely with Aquaria KLCC through the Blue Aquarium Programme, demonstrating how industry can actively contribute to Ocean Literacy. The programme delivers national STEM competitions, school outreach, and project-based learning experiences that combine marine science, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The Blue Aquarium STEM Competition encourages students to design sustainable aquaponic systems while developing entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills, with the ambition of establishing new Blue Schools across Malaysia. Meanwhile, Aquaria Back to School! reaches underserved primary schools through hands-on STEM and Ocean Literacy activities in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and national science institutions.

Malaysia is also developing a growing network of Lighthouse Projects that showcase different pathways for Blue School implementation. These include universities, marine conservation NGOs, community organisations, aquaria, and environmental education centres across the country. Together, these partners provide schools with opportunities for field experiences, citizen science, conservation activities, and authentic engagement with marine professionals.

Our flagship educational framework, Sea4Seekers, demonstrates how Ocean Literacy can be integrated into interdisciplinary education through inquiry-based learning. Students investigate marine habitats using satellite observations, explore biodiversity and marine organisms, discover microscopic ocean life, and develop solutions for marine pollution through circular economy concepts. The programme has already trained teachers and students while supporting the establishment of school-based ocean galleries and student-led innovation through the Ocean Pitch Challenge.

As Blue School Malaysia continues to expand, our vision is to develop a nationwide community of educators, students, scientists, industry partners, and local communities working together to embed Ocean Literacy across Malaysian education. By connecting local action with the global Blue School Global Network, we aim to inspire future generations of ocean-literate citizens who are equipped to contribute to a sustainable and resilient ocean future.

Main partners

Partners: 6 active Lighthouse Projects across universities, NGOs, industry, and community organisations.

National partners: Universities, government agencies, NGOs, industry partners, and local communities working together to advance Ocean Literacy across Malaysia.