Cultivating curiosity: Students attending the event at Foon Yew High School in Bandar Indahpura, Kulai. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
KULAI: Something must be done now to encourage students to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) before it’s too late, says a Johor exco member.
State investment, trade, and consumer affairs committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the country would risk having a shortage in skilled manpower if nothing was done to arrest the problem.
He said the recent report on the decrease of upper secondary students studying in the STEM stream should serve as an early warning.
“Based on the Education Ministry’s data last year, the percentage of enrolments dropped from 45.2% to 40.9% from 2017 to 2022.
“This is far from the national target of having 60% of students in the science stream and 40% in the arts stream.
“What will happen if this continues to drop to 30%? Where will our country look for local manpower, such as engineers and scientists? We need to do something now,” he said after launching the Mind and STEM Festival 2023 at Foon Yew High School in Bandar Indahpura here yesterday.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) chancellor Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and his wife Toh Puan Ena Ling were also present at the event.
Lee said that Johor and the Federal Government and its agencies were currently working hard to continue to encourage students to pursue interests in STEM.
“We need technologists, engineers, scientists, analysts, data scientists, AI (artificial intelligence) specialists, and so many more to help us build our nation for future generations.
“But this success cannot be achieved by the government alone.
“We need the assistance and support of teachers, academics, parents, students, the broader community, and leaders like Tun Dr Ling,” he added.
The role of local leaders is important in laying the groundwork to educate youth and make a much greater impact on their education and interests, he said.
Meanwhile, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) president Prof Dr Lee Sze Wei said that the two-day event, which began yesterday, served as a platform for showcasing the incredible achievements and breakthroughs in the world of STEM.
“Students are the architects of the future, and their curiosity, determination, and passion for STEM subjects are the driving forces that will shape the world.
“Educators and mentors play an important role in guiding and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.
“Their dedication to fostering a love for learning and exploration is the bedrock upon which future discoveries will be built,” the president said.
The Mind and STEM Festival 2023 is organised by the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement and the Kuala Lumpur Engineering Science Fair, with support from other educational institutions, centres, and industry.
The anchor for this festival is the more than 15 STEM activity booths set up by UTAR math, science, and engineering students.
The Mind and STEM Festival 2023 is open to the public at Dewan Besar Foon Yew High School from 9am to 4pm today with free admission to all.
