Digital innovation programme to improve STEM education pipeline
THE Penang government and the industry players have come up with another programme to spark interest of science and technology among the pupils.
Penang Science Cluster chief executive officer Ooi Peng Ee said school teachers would undergo a two-day training under the Junior Innovate programme.
“The teachers will be trained on coding, embedding system and other science and programming skills. They will then mentor their pupils, who will in turn take part in the state-level and hopefully the national-level competition during the Penang International Science Fair on Nov 10 and 11 this year.
Ooi thanked Vitrox Technologies president and chief executive officer Chu Jenn Weng and NationGate Solution Group managing director Ooi Eng Leong for their support.
He also thanked them for sponsoring about 20 schools in Penang for the Junior Innovate programme and the national-level competition.
Ooi also thanked the Penang government and the key industry pillars in Penang Science Cluster namely, Motorola, NI, Intel, HPMM, B Braun, Agilent, Keysight and DreamCatcher for their strong support.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy said the it was crucial to prepare the younger generation for the future.
“Our students must be exposed and be equipped with an innovative mindset.
“They must have the ability to master important ‘technical skills of the future’.
“The Penang government realised the importance of preparing our young for the future, hence, we are investing RM6 million over three years to promote and enable pupils to learn coding,” Dr Ramasamy said at the Junior Innovate programme launching ceremony at Wisma Yap Chor Ee on July 20.
He also thanked the industry for stepping forward to help prepare the young for the future.
