Efforts to boost STEM in Malaysia need cooperation of all parties - Arthur

KUALA LUMPUR - Efforts to intensify Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Malaysia require the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the public sector, industry, researchers and civil society.

Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, said that, through such collaboration and a combination of formal and informal learning, supported by a whole-of-government approach, youths will be interested in STEM.

"The government's continued commitment to the development of science, technology and innovation (STI) talent is clearly shown, through the RM100 million which has been allocated in Budget 2024, to empower STEM learning in the education sector and thus contribute to the birth of future generations who are of high quality, competitive and skilled in STEM,” he said when closing the final of the National Science Challenge (NSC) 2023 competition, organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), here today.

Themed 'Ensuring National Food Security Through Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)', NSC 2023 has recorded the participation of 9,888 groups, involving 29,664 students nationwide.

NSC 2023 also saw an increase in participation, from 412 schools last year to 855 schools this year, involving 660 schools in urban areas and 195 rural schools.

Arthur said that, through NSC 2023, students were exposed to the importance of safe food, healthy eating styles and the need for the country to be prepared to ensure the country's food supply is sufficient to face unexpected situations.

"Malaysia is currently ranked 41st in the Global Food Security Index 2022, out of 113 countries, with a score of 69.9. To improve this position, a long-term strategy in strengthening the agro-food industry is needed, with STI playing an important role in offering solutions,” he said.

Arthur also believed that the competition would be able to increase awareness among the general public, especially youths, about the global food security crisis. It also serves as a platform to encourage students' creativity and innovation in finding solutions to food security in Malaysia and the world.

Meanwhile, ASM president, Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen, said that the younger generation's interest in STEM needs to be nurtured, through initiatives which strategically focus on community needs.

"To support the strategic transformation to attract the interest of the younger generation to the STEM field and further the culture of science in society, this year ASM has implemented the National Science Challenge (NSC); the Borneo Science Tour; FAScinate and TropScience Webinar sessions; ArtScience; E-Estidotmy; the Science Story Challenge and the Young Scientist Network-ASM Science chat programme,” he said.

Tengku Mohd Azzman, who is also the Science, Technology and Innovation advisor to the Prime Minister, said that NSC was introduced in 1983 as a science quiz for schools in the country.

In 1999, ASM took over the role of NSC organiser, where the programme has become one of the national science competitions which provide high standards-based challenges to Form One to Four secondary school students.

The five teams competing in the NSC 2023 finals were Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan (SMJK) Chung Hwa (CF) Kelantan; Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Infant Jesus Convent (M) Johor; Kolej Yayasan Saad Melaka, SMJK Jit Sin (CF) Penang and SMJK Kwang Hua Selangor.

Kolej Yayasan Saad Melaka was named the winner of the competition and took home RM3,000 in cash, the Prime Minister Cup, a study trip abroad, gadgets, scholarships and participation certificates.

NSC 2023 is supported by strategic partners, namely the Ministry of Education(MOE); Petrosains Sdn Bhd; Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara); Sasbadi Online Sdn Bhd and Young Scientists Network-ASM (YSN-ASM). - BERNAMA