THOUSANDS of students from over 50 schools in Penang and other states took part in the ‘Penang School Maker Fair’ hosted by Han Chiang High School recently.
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, who attended the event, said the schools should prepare more students to be interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) studies.
“Making Maths and Science both fun and interesting helps the student to do much more than just learn.
“In future, it is clear that most jobs will require a basic understanding of Maths and Science,” Ramasamy said in his speech at the ‘Penang School Maker Fair’ at Han Chiang school compound.
State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who was also present, said over the past eight years, the state government has established several STEM centres.
“They are the Penang Science Cluster (RM23mil), Tech Dome Penang (RM28mil), Karpal Singh Penang Learning Centre (RM6 million), Penang Digital Library (RM10.8 million).
“STEM education has the power to open their minds to new career opportunities,” Jagdeep added.
There were a few activities organised during the fair, such as the Penang Innovator where primary and secondary school students competed from the prototypes they built using their innovative ideas.
Besides visiting the booths set up by many different industry players like Intel, Mouser, SNS Network and Eclimo, and STEM-related associations like Penang Science Centre, Penang Math Platform, CREST and Science Explorer, the students also could participate in the Scratch Workshop, LED Soldering Workshop, mBot wrestling and 3D Printing Workshop.
Story by K. Thaarshenii
Pix by Nur Amirah Husna Roslan