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Kota Kinabalu: The State Education Department should come up with a practical solution on the lack on interest among Sabah secondary students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).

Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the numbers opting for science streams have declined, which suggests the younger generations are uninterested. 

This is worrying as the students, when entering the working world, would be unequipped with necessary skills and knowledge which could lead to the possibility of workforce supply shortage in the high-tech sector.

“Only 12.35 per cent enrolled in Stem. The Department should increase students’ interest in the field,” he said at the Higher Education Raya Carnival @ Sabah, at Mini Putrajaya Hall, here.

Data from last year shows only 22.8 per cent of Form Four students nationwide were enrolled in science streams in secondary schools, with Sabah recording the lowest percentage at 12.35 per cent.

This trend would negatively impact the number of graduates in the high-tech sectors in which Malaysia, particularly Sabahans, will no longer be able to fit the requirements of job opportunities. 

He said the recent RM10.5 billion investment announcement made by Microsoft was an accurate illustration of Malaysia’s ability of “luring” high-tech industry players. 

However, this would be futile if the country is unable to supply graduates with the necessary skills or knowledge (in Stem-related skills) that could fill the job opportunities presented by investors.

Earlier, Mustapha, who witness the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signing between Sepanggar Parliament Service Centre and Uni Enrol, said that the agreement displays latter’s commitment in helping Sabahans fulfil their higher education goals and aspirations.

The signing took place between Ahsim Jamat who represented Sepanggar Parliament Service Centre while Uni Enrol was represented by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rickson Khaw.

Uni Enrol website unienrol.com will enable students to be matched with higher education courses from some 100 Private Higher Education Institutions (IPTS) in Malaysia that offers 500 types of scholarships will be offered to students based on the information provided.

Uni Enrol has obtained commitments from three highly reputable private institutions namely Help University, Swinburne University Sarawak and Curtin University Sarawak to allocate seven full scholarships worth more than RM300,000, only for students from Sabah.