Greater focus on STEM education to drive innovation, says Dr Annuar

SIBU (Sept 29): There is a need to instil interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in the education syllabus to tackle today’s issues with innovative solutions, said Dr Annuar Rapaee.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development said while innovation is important in today’s economy, which focuses on environmental issues and strives for sustainability, students nowadays are ‘not very interested’ in STEM subjects.

“Fundamental knowledge of STEM is crucial when it comes to bringing about innovation to solve today’s issues. Innovation must come with knowledge, and one’s knowledge pool must be diversified.

“Therefore, we cannot run away from the latest technology. We must invest our time into research before producing an innovative solution to a daily problem,” said Dr Annuar, adding that the Sarawak government is currently paying attention to the lack of interest in STEM subjects.

He said this when representing minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn at the closing ceremony of the Smart Innovation Competition (SIC) 2024 at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) here yesterday.

Additionally, in his speech, Dr Annuar shared an anecdote of China’s former president Deng Xiaoping, remarking that Deng decided to reform the country’s education system after being amazed by Japan’s technological advancement.

Dr Annuar, who is also Nangka assemblyman, said that Deng was questioning how Japan could develop at a rapid pace following their suffering and subsequent surrender in World War II.

“The answer for Japan was simple; it was to reform their education system – not an easy task to execute.

“Therefore, Deng went back to China and reformed its education system whereby half of the subjects that focused on communist philosophy were changed to science and technology.

“Deng is said to have believed that China must also produce 50,000 engineers each year, and during his presidential tenure, he achieved that target,” said Dr Annuar, adding that such radical reforms transformed China into a nation of high technological advancement.

Among those present were a political secretary to Premier of Sarawak Joshua Ting, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation chief executive officer Sudarnoto Osman, SIC 2024 director and lead coordinator Revd Charlly Simon, chairman and treasurer Abang Fairul Syarmil, and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan senior lecturer Dr Irfan Yunianto.