Tuaran: The State Government has raised funding for study scholarships from RM50 million to RM100 million annually, according to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said this is done to make sure that Sabah’s children can continue their studies at any higher education facility.
This, he said, is crucial because the State Government has made human capital development one of its key priorities in promoting the growth of the State.
“Excellent and quality human capital is very important for the success of the government’s policies, agendas and development programs to drive the State’s progress to a higher level”, he said when officiating the Kem Matematik Perdana’s closing ceremony at SMK Taman Ria, here, Sunday.
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Hajiji said the State Government is aware of the alarming performance in mathematics and additional mathematics, particularly in Sabah.
He said that this also accounts for students’ subpar performance in various science-based topics, including physics, chemistry, and biology, when measured against students in other states in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said that in light of this, the State Government will continue to place a special emphasis on the advancement of STEM in Sabah.
In order to address the issue of students’ lack of proficiency in mathematics and additional mathematics subjects in Sabah, he requests that the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, UMS, the State Education Department, and other relevant government agencies form an Integrated Committee.
“If necessary, hold a Plenary Session to discuss this issue and develop a specific programme, agenda, and framework that includes the empowerment of Mathematics,” he said.
“To overcome these shortcomings, the State Government is prepared to offer special funding. For the next 10 to 20 years, we want to ensure that mathematical concerns and problems won’t be a major barrier for Sabah youth seeking jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and medicine,” he added.
Hajiji said based on data from the Malaysian Education Statistics Report for the years 2020 to 2022, a total of 15 per cent of Sabah students are enrolled in the Science stream at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level.
He said that the results were somewhat different from what the State Government had hoped to achieve with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Roadmap, which aimed to develop professional groups in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and medicine by 2030.
He therefore hopes that swift action will be taken by all concerned government agencies.
“The impact of the lack of manpower in the professional sector involving the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine will affect the labor market needs for Sabah in the future, and this will also affect the socio-economic and technological development efforts in the State,” he said.
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