‘More have to be done to increase STEM student enrollment’
The enrolment of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes in Sarawak now stands at 30 per cent.
This is a slight increase from last year but still far below the state government’s target of 45 per cent, said Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Roland Sagah.
“The low enrolment of Form 4 and 5 students into STEM would mean even lower entries of students into technical and STEM courses.
“To achieve the 45 per cent target by 2030 we must really work extra hard,” he said in his address at a workshop on ‘Empower Education Institution Through Malaysia Education Ministry Second Wave of Malaysia Education Quality Standard Leadership and Management: Sarawak Schools Quality’ at Mega Hotel here yesterday.
Sagah said STEM education was an important element in ensuring continuous development and progress of Sarawak.
“Sarawak requires technical expertise not only in computing but also in other technical areas to drive its digital economy. Sarawak needs a large pool of talents with strong STEM background.
“STEM is at the heart of a new wave which is transforming the way we live and the way we work,” he said.
Based on ‘The World Economic Forum’ report as many as 65 per cent of children in primary school today will work in new, STEM based fields when they enter the workforce.
Sagah thus said every effort must be done to improve the enrolment of students in science or STEM classes.
On another workshop related to Intervention C-Learnt for Science and Mathematic Primary School Teachers, he believed it was a form of intervention to ensure better implementation of the teaching of science and mathematics in English in Sarawak.
He thus called on all the stakeholders to continue to support the state government’s endeavours in STEM education.
Later at the function, he witnessed the signing of collaboration agreement for the customisation of national geographic learning, Sarawak series ‘Look and Learn, 1st Edition’.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dr Annuar Rapaee; the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Kameri Affandi; Subis Education officer Kasiah Jafarali; and Budding Readers’ managing director (MD) Charles Sim were also present at the function.