Ensure Bumi students take up STEM subjects — Awg Tengah
LAWAS: Concerted efforts need to be taken to get Bumiputera students to take up science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the low number of Bumiputera STEM students at present would result in them being left behind in a digital economy.
“We aspire to churn out generations that are physically healthy, mentally and intellectually supreme, and Bumiputera students must not fear but embrace STEM subjects,” he said yesterday when presenting aid from Yayasan Sarawak to 438 students and representatives from 29 schools in Lawas District. We need our people to be wellversed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
He said Bumiputera families should target for half of their children to graduate with degrees, while the rest should have technical and vocational education and training (TVET) diplomas.
On the Centre of Technical Excellence (Centex) Lawas, he said it would cater to skills development for Limbang, Lawas and even Sabah.
Yayasan Sarawak director Azmi Bujang said Centex Lawas is expected to be ready in 2020, with the site handed over to the contractor yesterday.
He said the foundation allocates most of its RM60 million revenue to education, with only a small fraction used for operational costs.