Sabah targets 40% science stream students by 2025

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah is targeting for at least 40% of students in the state to be in the science stream by 2025, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.  

He wants the state Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry to work with the Sabah Education Department to create an integrated action plan to make it happen.  

He said it is worrying that the number of students taking courses related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and pure sciences – physics, chemistry, and biology – has been dwindling when Sabah needs to produce high-skilled human resources in such fields to fulfil the state’s future job demands.  

He said the rate of students’ involvement in STEM this year is only 27%, which is far from the target of 60% science stream students and 40% in the arts stream.  

“I hope that the (state science ministry), Sabah Education Department, and all relevant agencies can produce an integrated action plan to reach at least 40% of students taking the science stream by 2025,” he said when launching the Sabah Science Awards at Shangri-La Tg Aru Resort here yesterday.  

Hajiji said that the state science ministry’s strategic plan for 2022-2025 was formed as a guideline to implement various programmes and initiatives to empower the science, technology, innovation, and economy ecosystem in Sabah.  

“At the same time, the Sabah Education Department has also drafted the STEM strategic plan (2023-2025) involving various programmes to include teachers, students, school administrations and parents.  

“As we all know, the younger generation is the future of our nation that needs attention in order to ensure sufficient and high-skilled human resources to drive the state and country’s development.  

“Hence, it is closely related with STEM which is the core to producing high-skilled human capital,” he said.  

Hajiji, who supports the Sabah Science Awards, said the function was for the state government to show recognition and appreciation to the contributions of local scientists, technologists, and innovators in strengthening and promoting the fields of science, technology, and innovation in Sabah. – The Vibes, June 24, 2023