KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has called for resolutions on environmental education and whether the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English is a move in the right direction at the opening ceremony of the 16th International Organisation of Science and Technology Education (Ioste) Symposium Borneo 2014.
Len (centre) beating the gong 16 times to launch XVI IOSTE 2014. Looking on are (from left) Serina, Chan (partly hidden), Jamil and Keasty. — Photo by Mohd Rais Sanusi
Some of this year’s delegates at the opening ceremony yesterday.
The symposium, which began yesterday and will run until this Saturday, focuses on the theme ‘Science and Technology Education (STE) for Sustainable Development, Citizen Empowerment and Societal Transformation’.
In his speech, read by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Promotion of Technical Education) Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Adenan encouraged delegates to share their experiences in teaching and learning Science and Mathematics in their own countries with the participants from 18 countries.
“Personally, I support the use of English in teaching Science and Mathematics because of the dominance and overwhelming presence of the English language in the world’s scientific community,” he said.
However, he added, the low levels of proficiency among teachers and students, particularly those from rural or disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, caused the Education Ministry to reverse the teaching of both subjects in English.
“The teachers’ inability to effectively communicate the scientific and mathematical concepts led to low levels of participation and a lack of enthusiasm in Science and Mathematics,” he explained.
Meanwhile, environmental education has not yet been included in the curricula of the formal education system.
“Moving towards sustainability is a big societal challenge that entails international cooperation. The use of science and technology to develop new technologies has been and continues to be questioned in the light of environment degradation, climate change, over consumption and societies’ pursuit of indefinite economic growth in a closed system.”
Adenan added that there was a need for science and technology environment education to provide and promote public awareness that can address these global issues.
“I hope that this forum will delve into developing recommendations that can be adopted.”
In his speech, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak rector Dr Jamil Hamali said they recognised that Ioste would provide the opportunity for policy makers, educators, researchers and stakeholders in the region to connect with global current and new members so they can share research findings.
“We also recognise that we need to establish a global network of science and technology education, a crucial area in Malaysia’s technology and innovation industry which is among the most buoyant among Southeast Asian countries, with first-class education facilities and broad investment opportunities underpinned by government incentives.”
Also present at the opening ceremony were IOSTE president Dr Stephen Keasty, organising chairperson Associate Professor Dr Margaret Chan, State Education director Serina Sauni, Teachers Training Institute of Malaysia (Batu Lintang Campus) director Awang Hambali Awang Hamdan and Teachers Training Institute of Malaysia (Tun Abdul Razak Campus) director Hamsiah Abdullah Masni.
The symposium features keynote lectures from four prominent speakers.
Tan Sri Dato Sri Prof Ir Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, UiTM Vice Chancellor will deliver a paper on ‘Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa’.
Prof Dr Molly NN Lee will be talking about ‘Education for Sustainable Development Education for Sustainable Development: Concept, Principles and Practices’. She is a former coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Programme for Development (APEID) and Programme Specialist in Higher Education at Unesco Asia and the Pacific Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok.
Professor Dr Malin Ideland, an academic in Ethnology at Malmo University, Sweden with research interest in cultural perspectives on science and modern biotechnologies, will deliver a paper entitled ‘Global Responsibility or Eco-certified Nationalism? About Impossibilities of Non-colonial Educations for Sustainable Development (ESD)’.
Professor Dr Anthony Clarke of the University of British Columbia, Canada will pose the question ‘What If I Said No?” in his keynote address. His research interest, spanning many years, is in Teacher Education.