Idris being briefed by research engineer of MU’s Innovative Manufacturing, Mechatronics and Sport Lab (iMAMS), Mohd Azri Aris about Postural Balancing Platform during his visit to an exhibition booth before launching the 1st Malaysian University Sport Council International Conference 2014 (MUSCIC 2014) in Cyberjaya yesterday. The two-day conference organised by University Malaysia Sports Council with the cooperation of the Education Ministry’s Higher Education Sports Section, would be participated by 150 delegates from throughout the world. — Bernama photo
CYBERJAYA: Parents and teachers should make learning science interesting in promoting interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among school children.
Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the fun-flavoured way to learn science would help achieve 60 per cent science students in the country.
At present, he said science students made up only 37 per cent of the total.
“Don’t blame the students for not doing the science subjects but ourselves for not making them interesting. Therefore, we should make science interesting so that the school children take up STEM subjects in school.
“The Kuala Lumpur Engineering and Science Fair 2014 (KLESF 2014) will put science in a fun and interesting manner. The fair can promote interest among students to do science,” he said at a press conference after the launch of KLESF 2014 at the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) here yesterday.
KLESF 2014 will be held at the National Science Centre from April 25 to 27 to promote school children’s interest in STEM and its related career development among students and community.
The fair is part of the Science to Action (S2A) initiative announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last year to mainstream the usage and understanding of science to the society and promote innovation and technology as one of the strategic reform initiatives for national development.
Meanwhile, chairman of the KLESF 2014 Steering Committee, Datuk Ir Hong Lee Pee said the fair would foster networking among schools, public and private sectors to share information and experiences on projects, extra-curriculum and good practices in STEM education.
He said a vital component of the KLESF 2014 was the School Engineering and Science Design Mentorship Programme which is a discovery, hands-on and project based learning scheme for STEM in schools which involves university, industry and professional communities.
“It is an educational model that involves the higher learning institutions, Science and Technology (S&T) professions and industry community in the learning of science and engineering in schools,” he added. — Bernama