During a press conference in November 2020, then Minister for Education, Science and Technological Research YB Datuk Amar Michael Manyin anak Jawong revealed that Sarawak intended to achieve 40 per cent of its students taking up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Form Four within the next two to three years.
Should this goal be met, it would almost double the percentage of students entering pure Science stream in upper secondary from 23 per cent in 2020, in spite of it being below the Malaysian target of 60 per cent.
“The percentage of students taking up STEM when they go to Form Four has to be more than 23 per cent because probably when the students enter Form Six, the percentage goes down and by the time they go to university, the percentage is even smaller,” he was quoted as saying.
With Sarawak, Malaysia and the world over investing in the digital economy to accelerate socio-economic progress, boosting the number of STEM students is essential to produce highly skilled talents who can not only contribute to the nation’s development, but also navigate an increasingly challenging environment driven by technology.
As the U.S. Department of Education describes the rationale behind the emphasis on STEM in education:
“In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever that our nation’s youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions.”
One way to promote STEM via education is to introduce it among children early on. Exposing them to STEM-related subjects during their preschool or primary school years can help build curiosity and confidence in immersing themselves in these supposedly difficult academic disciplines.
This in turn enables children – and even their parents – to discover diverse fields in STEM, providing these young ones more wide-ranging options for their further studies and careers as they grow up.
Through numerous initiatives, Sarawak has been fostering interest in STEM among students as a means to enhance its education system and infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.
It is also in line with its digital economy transformation vision and strategies, particularly in developing its human capital by nurturing digital talents to help drive its aspiration of becoming an advanced state by 2030.
Examples of STEM Initiatives by Sarawak in Education
STEM Open Lab
A collaborative effort between the Sarawak Government and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), STEM Open Lab was initiated in April 2017 with a pilot project involving three primary schools and three secondary schools.
As of October 2019, these laboratories have been established at 10 schools in Kuching, Saratok, Lawas and Limbang, with plans to expand the initiative statewide through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research together with Sarawak Multimedia Authority.
A programme that promotes STEM via a simpler, more entertaining and practical approach, STEM Open Lab not only encourages students to pick up STEM subjects, but also creates awareness among children, youths and local communities about the importance of STEM in terms of uplifting their socio-economic well-being.
STEM Playground
A key programme at the Sarawak Career and Training Fair (SCaTFair), STEM Playground was first introduced in 2017, featuring interactive exhibitions from institutions of higher learning, government agencies and leading companies for students and even families to join.
The 2020 edition, which was held virtually due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, presented three segments for participants to explore online: STEM Fun Segment, STEM Facts Gallery and STEM Games and Challenges.
Organised by Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak or TEGAS, STEM Playground’s major goal, like STEM Open Lab, is to cultivate interest and talent among primary and secondary school students in STEM.
Sarawak Science Centre
Launched in October 2020 by Premier YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, construction of Sarawak Science Centre is taking place on a 10.8-acre site in Petra Jaya and is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
Expected to be equipped with facilities for people of all ages to utilise, the centre would carry out various STEM activities and programmes that highlight the strength of Sarawak, including its geography, natural resources, biodiversity, culture and demographics.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the Premier stated that Sarawak Science Centre would provide a great avenue to promote STEM among young people as a means to further enhance Sarawak’s human resource development.
“Sarawak is rich in natural resources and biodiversity. If we can train our people to add value to these, it will be the way forward for Sarawak,” he was quoted as saying.
