Mosti’s ‘scientists-at-school’ programme out to get kids excited about STEM

SIBU (Sept 10): The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry’s (Mosti) plan of bringing 100 scientists to 100 schools nationwide is aimed at instilling in the schoolchildren deeper interest in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field.

According to Mosti secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim, the programme is expected to be implemented next year.

“Under Mosti, we have some famous Malaysian scientists who can do sharing-sessions in schools, guiding students on which science subjects that they can take.

“We hope to run this in two cycles next year; maybe for the first half, (there will be) 100 scientists in 100 schools, and the second half, another group of 100 scientists in 100 other schools.

“We will collaborate with the MoE (Education Ministry) to get the list of schools,” he said in his opening speech for the ‘Kembara Sains Borneo’ (KSB) at SMK Deshon here, yesterday.

When met by reporters later, Aminuddin said Mosti was also using various programmes and approaches to instil in the students the interest in STEM, apart from the KSB.

“Other approaches include the holding of the National Science Week, where the implementation is done both online and physically.

“Last year, we reached 600,000 hits (via online). Other programmes such as the Malaysia Tech Olympics in Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula recorded participation of 2.2 million students.

“In addition, the National Planetarium has also almost reached three million followers through various activities. These are among ways to attract students to science and technology,” he said.

Moreover, Aminuddin encouraged parent-teacher associations (PTAs) to apply to Mosti for the running of ‘STEM Camp’ at their respective schools.

On the KSB, he said SMK Deshon was the programme’s fifth leg in Sarawak, adding that the previous locations were SMK Lutong and SMK Merbau in Miri, and SMK Bandar Bintulu and SK Jepak in Bintulu.

The next stop would be the schools in Simunjan and Kuching, he added.

“The KSB aims to gather students who have interest in STEM and give them an interactive live experience.

“As of Sept 6, more than 27,000 students from primary and secondary schools, as well as youths all over the country have taken part in our exhibitions, held during programmes similar to KSB,” said Aminuddin, who was accompanied Sibu District Education Officer Ahli Chikba here.