Awang Tengah: Sarawak needs more STEM practitioners

0

KUCHING: The state needs more human capital majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to cope with current and future needs.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, said the demand for more human capital with STEM knowledge will undoubtedly increase as the state leaps towards a high industrial technology and digital economy.

He said that the awareness of importance to acquire STEM knowledge was still very low among students in the state, particularly among Bumiputera students.

“The need to acquire the knowledge of STEM is very much needed for the development of Sarawak as it leaps towards a new economic structure of the digital economy and high industrial technology.

“However, the awareness among students in the state, particularly among Bumiputera students is still very low and efforts must be made,” Awang Tengah told a press conference yesterday.

Awang Tengah earlier witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS) and the Department of Community Development (Kemas) at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya, here representing Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, and Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources, pointed out that it was worthwhile to consider creating awareness on the importance of STEM from an early age.

According to him, introducing awareness on STEM from an early age would create interest for STEM among children, and help in producing skilful, knowledgeable and highly intellectual human capital.

Awang Tengah also said that the state’s human capital, besides being knowledgeable, must also have moral values.