Felician Teo
SIBU: Discovery-based learning can woo students to take up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) subjects.
Educationalist Felician Teo suggested that teachers take students on field trips to promote such learning.
“Learning must take place not only within the four walls of a classroom or lab,” Teo told thesundaypost.
He was commenting on Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh’s statement that only 37 per cent of students in schools nationwide had enrolled in the science stream, which was far below the government’s target of achieving the Technical Science and Literature Policy with a 60:40 ratio.
Jusoh said the low enrolment of students in science stream was because they were less interested in Stem subjects.
Teo opined that Jusoh’s was right in highlighting this issue as output from our school system would directly impact the nation’s economy in the area of human capital development.
“To encourage more students to take up science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, stakeholders such as teachers, parents and the community at large must play a more proactive role in widening the scope of the students’ education.”
Teo added that teachers must adopt a different approach to teaching and learning.
To make learning more interesting, the delivery of the curriculum must be more engaging and hands on, he added.
“Teachers must move away from the emphasis on rote learning to achieve learning outcomes.
“Students must enjoy the subjects they are learning and this can be achieved if a different methodology is adopted that will stimulate their interest and challenge their thinking.”
Teo also suggested the use of technology as part of the teaching arsenal.
So much information is available for research online and more interactive learning could be adopted in the classroom with the use of technology, he expounded.
Parents could also play a significant role in promoting science related subjects by taking children to science centres, museums, and exhibitions, Teo continued.
“Public institutions such as public libraries and local universities can organise science and technology exhibitions, fairs, talks by experts to give students the platforms to learn more about these fields.”
Meanwhile, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee said technically skilled workers were vital for a developed country.
This, he said, required a basic foundation in Science and Mathematics.
“Even though we may not be interested in these subjects, they are very important for the growth of a developing nation.
“Hence, it is important for our people to know the future is there,” said the UK-trained cardiologist.
To motivate students to take up Stem subjects, they needed to be introduced to the bright prospects of technical fields, more so with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) coming up, he said.