KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has increased the allocation for education scholarships to RM100mil per year, according to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. The aim of this increase is to provide more opportunities for Sabahan children to pursue tertiary education. Hajiji emphasized that education and human capital development are key priorities for the state.
Hajiji delivered his speech through his political secretary, Datuk Abdul Kassim Razali, in the closing ceremony of a Mathematical Camp attended by over 300 students from 10 schools at SMK Taman Ria in Tuaran on Sunday, October 15. He expressed concerns over the low performance of students in mathematics, additional mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry. To address this issue, Hajiji stated the need for a greater focus on these subjects and called for the formation of an integrated committee with the Sabah Education Department, state Science, Technology, and Innovation ministry, and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Hajiji urged the committee to hold a plenary session to discuss ways to boost interest and understanding in these subjects among students. He also pledged to allocate special funds to explore and resolve the issues surrounding the teaching and learning of STEM subjects. Hajiji emphasized the importance of overcoming the challenges in STEM education to ensure future academic success for Sabahan children.
Based on the Malaysia Education Statistic Report from 2020 to 2022, the number of students opting for the science stream in the SPM level remains at 15%. This figure does not align with Sabah’s objective of promoting STEM fields by 2030. Hajiji stated that addressing this issue promptly is crucial for achieving the state’s vision.
Hajiji further highlighted the long-term consequences of the lack of human capital in professional fields related to science and technology. He emphasized that this shortage could impede Sabah’s socio-economic development and technological advancement in the future.
Overall, Sabah’s Chief Minister has increased the allocation for education scholarships to provide greater opportunities for Sabahan children to pursue tertiary education. He expressed concerns over the weak performance of students in STEM subjects and called for increased focus on mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry. Hajiji urged the formation of an integrated committee with the involvement of relevant departments and UMS to address these challenges. He assured the allocation of special funds to tackle the issues and stressed the significance of overcoming the obstacles in STEM education to achieve the state’s long-term vision.
