JAZRO Cup 2025 showcases budding tech talents

The inaugural JAZRO Cup 2025 concluded on a high note at Rekascape, Cyberjaya, where 319 students from more than 70 schools competed in the national finals after two months of rigorous regional rounds. The competition, which involved 1,200 students from 143 schools nationwide, stood out for its remarkable rural participation, with 87 schools (61.5%) representing non-urban communities – a milestone in bridging the urban–rural divide in STEM education.

Bridging the STEM gap between rural and urban schools

The JAZRO Cup gathered primary and secondary students from six regions – Sabah, Sarawak, East Coast, North, South, and Central – to battle in coding and no-code robotics challenges. For many rural teams, the platform was an opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with more experienced schools from urban centres, proving that equal STEM opportunities can unlock talent regardless of background.

Ir. Dzulfarqeish Zainuddin, CEO of JAZRO Robotic Academy, emphasised the competition’s impact:
“The JAZRO Cup is not just a competition; it is a platform of equal opportunity. When rural and urban students are on the same platform, competing with the same passion and creativity, we can feel that we are building the future generation of Malaysia’s innovative ecosystem. That’s our experience!”

Among the highlights of the finals were two special recognitions. The Coding Genius Award went to SM Islam Hira’ & Maahad Tahfiz Al-Quran Hira’, Kuala Selangor – a rural school team that showcased outstanding problem-solving and programming mastery.

SMK Seksyen 5 Wangsa Maju win Gobi Innovator Award

Meanwhile, the Gobi Innovator Award was won by two 14-year-old students from SMK Seksyen 5 Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur – Mohamad Afiq Bin Shaime and Jude Mittren Joaching Thayalan. Competing in the Byte Droid category, the duo impressed judges by successfully programming the Jazrobot using Ardublock to solve every challenge on the competition circuit.

Despite being first-time participants, they clearly explained each coding step without teacher assistance – a feat that underscored their depth of understanding.

“This success proves that when students are given access to the right platform and guidance, they are capable of achieving something great. We are proud of Afiq and Jude’s achievements, which not only demonstrate creativity but also the resilience of learning to master new programming languages,” said Ir. Dzulfarqeish.

Their teacher, Cikgu Siti Sarah binti Hamin, revealed that the students’ determination came through intensive training. “Even though they did not record the fastest time, they completed the mission within the stipulated period. This experience has inspired us to create a dedicated robotics space at school to provide more students with opportunities to explore robotics and coding.”

A growing national movement for STEM

The competition featured diverse categories, including Roboblitz, Blazebot, Robot Combat, Byte Droid, Storm Code, and Game of Drone Mission, ensuring students of different skill levels had the chance to shine. With backing from the Ministry of Education and partners such as Muslim Pro/Bitsmedia, Spritzer, MyDigital, Petrosains, and Yayasan MR DIY, the JAZRO Cup 2025 positions itself as more than a robotics challenge – it is a movement to inspire Malaysia’s future technology leaders.

As the dust settles on its first year, the competition’s organisers remain committed to expanding opportunities. With rural schools making up more than half the participation, the JAZRO Cup has proven itself a pioneering model in ensuring Malaysia’s digital future is inclusive, innovative, and forward-looking.