According to the U.S.
Department of Commerce, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
occupations are growing at 17% annually in the U.S. All other occupations are
growing at 9.8%. STEM degree holders have higher income than non-STEM holders.
STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy and
generates the next generation of innovators. But the reality in the U.S. is
that scores on average for mathematics and science are lagging behind other
developing countries.
A curriculum that is STEM-based
has real-life situations to help students learn. STEM activities provide
hands-on and minds-on lessons for students. Making maths and science fun and
interesting will help students not only learn but create a passion for it. It
breaks gender, ethnic, racial or income gaps for a global economy.
What about Malaysia?
The anticipation is one million new STEM careers in Malaysia by 2020. According
to Kelly Services, fresh STEM graduates could expect salaries of RM3,900 and
above as automation engineer or Java developer (RM5,200). But the reality is
the enrolment of students in science stream (Form 5) has seen a steady drop of
6,000 (on average) per year since 2012. Enrolment now is 167,962 out of a total
of 375,794, or about 45%. The real worry is that the highest unemployment among
all graduates in the country are those from the science and technical courses
at 20.7%.
Will MITI, Education Ministry and the private
sector work on ideas to fulfil Malaysia’s ambition of Industry 4.0?
Reference
Star Online, Sunday 21 October 2018
and others
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