Malaysian teacher wins RISE Educator Award for AI-powered Orang Asli learning

Muhammad Hafizu Aiman Jusoh, a teacher at SK Pulat in Kelantan, Malaysia, received the 2026 RISE Educator Award from Taylor's College for his AI and digital learning work with the Orang Asli Temiar community in Pos Pulat. He received RM5,000, while his school was awarded a further RM50,000 project development grant. His Learning House Without a Bell programme combines STEM, artificial intelligence, digital skills, and Temiar language and cultural heritage, including Kampung AI dan Digital, a Digital Temiar Dictionary, and AI Storybook Mathematics. The award was presented on September 12 at the RISE Educator Award & Conference 2026 at Taylor's Lakeside Campus.

This is a concrete case of AI education in a marginalized community: the project uses AI and digital tools for language and cultural documentation and mathematics learning rather than a technology demonstration, directly addressing learning continuity and identity amid relocation. For teachers and schools, it offers a reference for integrating AI in low-resource, culturally specific settings; for AI education product builders, it shows local language and cultural content can be a key differentiator. The limitation is that the source provides no learning outcome, achievement, or long-term adoption data, so the project's effectiveness still requires independent evaluation. Orang Asli students can continue learning and documenting Temiar language and culture with AI and digital tools during relocation. The awarded project receives RM50,000, which may further expand the school's AI and STEM curriculum.