More than five million students to benefit from STEM centre

The setting up of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM) learning centre is expected to benefit more than five million students and 138,330 teachers nationwide.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said STEM teachers would receive continuous professional development training to unearth STEM talents needed in the country.

“The establishment of the STEM centre involved the implementation of four main initiatives namely STEM awareness and culturalisation programme, provision of continuous professional development training, and implementation, evaluation and monitoring as well as a STEM source of reference,” he told Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He was replying to a question by Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad ( BNParit Sulong) who wanted to know the ministry’s plan to empower the development of a STEM centre so that the 2050 National Transformation generation could progress in line with the advent of Industrial Revolution 4.0.

Abu Bakar said STEM was important to produce more skilled manpower apart from ensuring the continuous development and competitiveness of the country.

When tabling Budget 2018, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said RM250 million had been allocated for TN50 generation education, including the setting up of a STEM centre. — Bernama