Engineering the Future?

 

Data shows that the number of students registering for STEM-related courses has fallen to 35% as at end-2022 from 38% in 2017. At the same time, the number of graduates from STEM-related fields has declined from 39% in 2017 to 36% in 2022. 

According to the latest available data, as at April 30, 2023, the number of Form 4 students enrolled in the science stream had declined to 74,180, or roughly 18.8% of the entire Form 4 student population, from 92,956 students, or 23.7%, in 2017. 

A similar trend can be observed for Form 5 students, as enrolment in the science stream had slipped to 70,497 persons, or 19.4% of the entire Form 5 student population, as at April 30, 2023, from 93,345 persons, or 23.23% in 2017. 

Industry experts and educators say the declining interest in STEM-related subjects is a multifaceted issue: from the perception of STEM being difficult academically to the lack of parental encouragement as well as the unattractive remuneration. 

In Penang, fresh graduates in engineering can command a starting salary of RM3,800 to RM4,000. Those in more niche sectors such as integrated circuit design are paid a substantially higher salary of about RM6,000. The state is an outlier, though, as engineers in other parts of Malaysia do not enjoy such salaries. 

On Sept 8, the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint was officially launched to address the need for a long-term talent supply pipeline and skills development for its STEM workforce in support of the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS). 

Developed by the Penang STEM Working Group, the blueprint comprises InvestPenang, Penang Institute, Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Motorola Solutions, Pentamaster Corp Bhd and Intel Corp. It aims to build a highly skilled and sustainable STEM workforce to propel Penang towards long-term success in a rapidly evolving industrial and technological landscape. 

It is estimated that, between 2025 and 2030, the total funds required for STEM initiatives is RM49.5 million per year, with 55.6% to come from the federal government, 31% from the state government and 13.4% from the industry. 

“A bad curriculum well taught is invariably a better experience for students than a good curriculum badly taught: Pedagogy trumps curriculum. Or, more precisely, pedagogy is a curriculum, because what matters is how things are taught, rather than what is taught.” (LeapEd’s Nina Adlan Disney)

 

Hopefully, Penang will get it right to show other states the way forward for STEM. We can’t depend on MoE, because it is always in denial!

 

Reference:

Cover Story: Engineering the future, Liew Jia Teng/Esther Lee, The Edge Malaysia,
10 October 2024