KUCHING: A state minister has stressed the importance of embracing technology and promoting STEM education, especially in the present era of IR4.0 and digital economy.
Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, the Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), said the government is taking proactive steps to ensure Sarawak’s participation in the new economy by promoting technological literacy and preparing students for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
His text of speech was read out by his deputy, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, at the STEM Trailblazers event at the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus today.
Highlighting the significance of technology, Sagah said: “The new economy characterised by terms like Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Blockchain, requires individuals not only to be users of technology but also creators and innovators.
“To achieve this, a solid foundation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is essential.
“However, the low enrolment in STEM subjects remains a concern, with the average enrolment in STEM package subjects in Form Four standing at a mere 30 per cent over the past five years, well below the national target of 60 percent.”
Recognising the need for more technologists and skilled professionals in the IR4.0 related fields, he emphasised the importance of a strong STEM education system.
