By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Sept 12: Emphasis on enrolling more students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is important to prepare Sarawak to face the challenges of the 21st century, opined Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.
According to Manyin, who is Education Advisor at the Sarawak Premier’s Office, at the moment, there is only a 28 per cent enrollment of students in STEM for Sarawak.
“The national target is 60 per cent (by 2030), but even the national level has not come to that; it’s about 40 per cent. So we are far behind,” he told reporters when met after attending the Politeknik Kuching Sarawak 30th convocation ceremony held at a local hotel here today.
Manyin, who is also former Tebedu assemblyman, pointed out that when he headed the Education, Science and Technological Research Ministry, they proposed to the Sarawak government to build a science centre to get more students in STEM.
He said it is already on the way to being built by the Sarawak government with the cost of RM200 million.
“Hopefully, that science centre will inculcate the students’ interest in STEM,” he added. — DayakDaily
