Dr Annuar: STEM50 initiative in Nangka to be further strengthened to enhance its effectiveness

SIBU (July 18): The STEM50, an initiative to produce more Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students in Nangka constituency, will be further strengthened to enhance its effectiveness, said Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.

The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Minister said the programme, now in its third year, currently has 450 active students from three secondary schools in Nangka.

“We will assess the effectiveness of STEM50, after knowing the number of students (from three secondary schools in Nangka) entering Science stream next year.

“This will be the first indicator on how far the programme has met its objectives to produce more Science stream students in Nangka area. And from there, we will further strengthen it.

“For the record, STEM50 is an initiative at the local front geared towards the government’s policy of producing more STEM students,” said Dr Annuar.

The Nangka assemblyman was speaking to reporters after the STEM50 townhall at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) here yesterday, involving 150 Form One students from SMK Agama, SMK Jalan Oya Sibu and SMK Kampung Nangka.

The moderator was STEM Education and Professional Skills secretariat chairman Abang Fairul Syarmil Abanf Mohamad.

On the recent disclosure by Education Minister, Fadhlina Sidek, that student enrolment in STEM subjects among upper secondary students rose to about 51 per cent, Dr Annuar said: “To me, while there is improvement, we should not be resting on our laurels; we should keep on improving.

“For Sarawak, we will need a lot of students in the field of STEM in line with Sarawak government’s focus on green energy and digitalisation.”

Dr Annuar hopes that the nine primary schools in Nangka constituency will emulate the three secondary schools in generating more student interest in STEM, and ultimately, encouraging them to pursue STEM-related careers.

“Parents also play a crucial role in the success of our STEM50 initiative, as they are the ones who will ultimately inspire their children to take up STEM subjects,” he said.