SIBU: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) has called for better facilities and infrastructure in schools to promote interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics among children.
Its president Jisin Nyud said yesterday while teachers were trying their best to make lessons interesting, the lack of relevant facilities had hampered their momentum.
“Teachers use facilities such as science laboratory, the ICT and other apparatus to teach these subjects, but the problem is some of these facilities are quite old, absolute and require serious attention.
“It is good that the ministers are serious about our education system. STU hopes the ministry take into consideration the facilities and infrastructure to promote interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics among school children.”
He was asked to comment on the statement by Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, who called on parents and teachers to make learning of science interesting in order to promote interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Idris said the fun-flavoured way to learn science would help achieve 60 per cent science students in the country.
He also said students should not be blamed for not doing science subjects.
Jisin noted the serious attention of the government to make the country a developed nation by year 2020, saying it was a dream that everyone took as a challenge.
This, he added, was an impassioned plea for greater commitment to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education nationwide.
He said the 21st century required a new kind of learner and not someone who could simply churn out answers by rote.
“We need students who can think expansively and solve problems resourcefully.”
He reckoned with the world getting more challenging, solving complex problems of tomorrow would not be easy.
In addition, the traditional academic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic needed to be geared with creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
“Due to this demand, the role of teachers, especially those who are teaching these subjects, is also getting tougher and more challenging,” said Jisin.