KUCHING: Teachers are hoping that the state government will organised more Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related activities for students.
This view was gathered by New Sarawak Tribune from several teachers and students from different schools during the Drone and Robotic Explore (Drobotex) Challenge and Young Makers Champion and other STEM programme at the Sarawak Career Fair and Training (SCAT) Fair 2019, at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), today.
Alinda Mohamad Sulaiman, a science teacher from SMK Green Road, said programmes like drone and robotic competition should be held more often so that they will create greater interest among the students on how technology actually works.
“Looking at the generation of today, they are more into Artificial Intelligence (AI), and definitely organising more STEM-related activates will make more students wanting to learn more and eventually knowing their field of interest,” she said.
Juhaidah Abdul Wahab, 46, who teaches at SMK Bako, said it is the second time she is bringing her students to join the programme, which she feels, gives the students the chance to explore and test their skills on technology.
“The programme increases their knowledge on problem-solving skills in technology,” she said, adding similar programmes should be held in schools too.
Nur Aisyah Atiqah Abdullah, 37, a language teacher from SMK St Joseph, said she felt excited whenever the state government organised the programme, as she saw it as a good platform to discover the students’ skills and talents in technology.
“Through this programme, they are given the opportunity to create robot and use their imagination and creativity,” she said.
She said looking at the importance of STEM subjects in the field of technology, and also now that the world is entering a technology era, the focus should be to encourage more students to have an interest in STEM subjects.
“I hope the government can organise the programme throughout Sarawak, especially in rural areas so that all the students will have the opportunity to participate and eventually learn to have strong interest in STEM subjects,” she said.
Mohd Zakariya, 17, from Maktab Rendah Sains Kuching, and his team, were joining the Drobotex Challenge today.
He said the programme not only created an interest among student, but the students were able to think critically on how to build and programme robots.
“I have always liked science and technology subjects in school, and also love creating robots, which is why I wanted to join the programme,” he said.
He said hoped the government will continue to organise more programmes especially those related to robotics or drone challenge.
Meanwhile, Yuki Azalina Mohd Razip, 17, from SMK Green Road, said through the programme she started to develop an interest on Lonpos puzzle, a type of mind games, after participating in the programme.
“I never knew of this mind-solving game before, and it is very interesting,” she said.
She said she is happy that she is a member of her school STEM club, because it is the reason why she is participating.
She said it was her first time and she felt excited.
“I do hope more programmes like this will be held not only for students, but also youths everywhere. It’s a healthy activity,” she said.
The annual SCAT Fair was organised by Ministry of Education Science and Technical Research (MESTR) and Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) in collaboration with Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Education Department.
