Renewed push for STEM

THE Education Ministry is working to address the decline of interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects among students.

Youths, said its minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, would otherwise lose out on the global stage, which is heavily based on scientific and technological advancement.

The ministry, he said, is aware of the rapid decline of interest yearon-year and is trying to address the issue.

“Education is a timeline, starting from primary, secondary to tertiary education.

“If the interest in STEM is not inculcated at an early age, starting from Year One or earlier, students’ choices will be affected when they choose their major,” he said during a live television interview on May 11.

In 2018, 44% of students opted for the Science stream at secondary level, compared with 48% in 2012.

At tertiary level, 570,858 (63%) of students majored in Arts and Humanities, Education, Social Sciences, Business and Law in 2017, compared with 334,742 (37%) who enrolled in Science, Math, Computers, Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction courses, StarEdu reported in February.

To promote STEM and instil a culture of innovation among students, RM11mil was allocated in Budget 2020 to implement joint initiatives by the Education and Science,Technology and Innovation (formerly the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry) Ministries, as outlined in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 20132025.