Year Six pupils get to hear benefits of STEM, English

MAMBONG: Primary pupils moving on to secondary education have been encouraged to consider STEM education and English proficiency going forward.

The advice came from one Dr Clarence Jerry who said subjects such as Science, Mathematics and English could help pupils prepare for further studies eventually and fields involving technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology.

“STEM is not only about becoming a scientist. It develops the way we think, solve problems, innovate and respond to the challenges of the future,” he said.

He was speaking at the Final Boost DLP 2026 organised by the Persatuan Guru Besar Malaysia Daerah Padawan (PGBMDP), Mambong Zone, in collaboration with Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS).

The programme involved about 180 Year Six pupils and their parents from 18 primary schools in the area.

Clarence also urged the pupils not to focus solely on examinations but to develop an interest in understanding how things work.

“Do not study only to pass examinations. Learn to understand, learn to explore and learn to discover,” he said.

He said English was particularly important for pupils pursuing STEM-related studies as it could give them access to scientific literature, technology, higher education and international communication.

Turning to parents, Clarence encouraged them to consider suitable educational opportunities for their children, including international schools, when available.

He said studying in an international school could expose pupils to English, STEM, independent learning, different cultures and perspectives.

However, he stressed that such exposure should not come at the expense of their cultural identity.

“Our children can be proudly Bidayuh, proudly Sarawakian and proudly Malaysian while also becoming global citizens,” he said.

Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, who is also Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Road), attended the programme’s closing ceremony.