THE Penang government is emphasising the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) learning to develop students’ interests in these subjects.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said there was a decline in interest in the Science stream among students at the upper secondary level.
“We need to address this issue and strive to ensure students’ interest in STEM learning is restored.
“To address this issue, the state agencies, such as the Penang STEM, Penang Science Cluster, Tech Dome Penang, Penang Math Platform, Penang Skills Development Corporation (PSDC), and Penang Digital Library have been at the forefront in providing hands-on STEM learning for students.
“All these are our initiatives to promote STEM learning among the students,” Chow said in his speech during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Penang STEM and SMJK Chung Hwa Confucian at the school today.
Chow said the demand for engineers and technical talents has been growing.
“Therefore, we need to ensure sufficient talents in these industries,” he added.
Earlier, Chow said he was pleased with the effort by the Persatuan Alumni Chung Hwa Confucian’s effort in sponsoring RM50,000 for a cohort of 25 students for two years.
The Inari Amertron Berhad has also come forward to sponsor RM60,000 to a cohort of students from SMJK Chung Hwa for the engineering track.
Penang STEM general manager Richard Chung said the talents in the state need to be increased.
“We have carried out a series of initiatives to increase the talent pool in the state,” he said.
Persatuan Alumni Chung Hwa president Datuk Goh Teng Whoo thanked the state and other sponsors for their remarkable assistance to the school.
Among those present were SMJK Chung Hwa Confucian principal Yeoh Lye Hock and SMJK Chung Hwa’s board of directors chairman Loh Hock Joo.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Law Suun Ting