Misconceptions on STEM subjects cause students to shy away

TANJUNG MALIM: The lack of interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM) subjects among the country’s students is due to the immense amount of theories that need to be studied, coupled with misconceptions they have of the field.

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris ( UPSI) vice chancellor (Academic and International), Prof Dr Mohd Sahandri Gani Hamzah, said the misconceptions present among the students regarding the STEM subjects include problems getting a job after completing one’s studies, the difficulty of studying the subjects, and the lack of exposure to practical activitiesrelated approaches.

“Therefore, schools should create initiatives, such as programmes and seminars, to attract students to STEM,” he said in a speech on behalf of UPSI vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran at the Perak Zone’s STEM 2018 Education Colloquium, held at the Sultan Azlan Shah campus here yesterday.

Mohd Sahandri added that UPSI, as the nation’s educational university, is also taking the initiative to manage the challenge, such as by organising colloquiums and seminars that are beneficial to teachers, counsellors, researchers, students, parents and members of the public.

Earlier, the event was officiated by the Education Ministry’s director of Education Policy Planning and Research Division, Dr Ahmad Rafee Che Kassim, who represented the ministry’s deputy director-general, Datuk Sulaiman Wak.

The colloquium, organised by the Education Ministry and UPSI, was held to increase the competency, knowledge and skills of teachers to improve the teaching and learning process of STEM subjects. It is also designed to get the teachers to disseminate the latest information on STEM-related careers obtained from the colloquium. — Bernama