BINTULU: A total of 120 students and accompanying teachers from six secondary schools around Bintulu attended the 'STEM-azing With Us' Program in conjunction with BAKSIS Day at the Central Lecture Hall of Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB) on November 12.

The program received an encouraging response from the education community and the schools involved, namely Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bintulu, SMK Kidurong, SMK Bandar Bintulu, SMK Baru Bintulu, SMK Assyakirin and SMK Kemena.

Program facilitator Mohammad Saufi Mohammad Ramli said that the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program held for the first time at UPMKB was a continuation of the idea of ​​the students who followed the Student Service Course under the QKK2101 Student Service Credit Co-Curriculum Course (Group 2) Academic Session 2022/2023.

He said, it emphasizes face-to-face learning methods for secondary school students.

“This two-pronged program to expose students to a variety of knowledge and new experiences that can attract interest in the field of science in addition to strengthening the elements of soft skills in themselves that can be practiced in everyday life,” he said.

He said, this kind of experience can only be obtained through such a program and not in the classroom at once to train students to always help the surrounding community with the knowledge they have.

He said, this sharing of experience and knowledge will indirectly give awareness to the outside community in improving the level of education for them and their families.

In addition, he said, this program aims to change the perception, way of life and mindset of students towards the STEM field in every aspect of daily life.

This is in line with the Ministry of Education Malaysia's (MOE) aspiration to lead the STEM direction as students' interest in the field has been seen as lacklustre in recent years.

At the same time, Bintulu District Education Office (PPD) Officer, Samri Suhaili said the program is in line with the Ministry of Education's plan and should continue in the future.

He said the efforts, support and assistance from the university were very helpful in the effort to increase students' interest in the STEM field.

Its program director, Muhd Adam Hafizi Tahah described such a group approach as opening the minds of students to communicate and collaborate with new friends.

“They are also able to share their experiences in their respective schools as well as improve the soft skills of students and students including encouraging the involvement of the local community for all ages,” he said.

Through this programme, he said, students have to undergo group activities consisting of various schools with activities that are specially designed involving five sets of modules, namely Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English and Mathematics.

He said, with the monitoring by the facilitators for each group, each student strives to compete between groups for the exciting prizes offered.

Date of Input: 16/12/2022 | Updated: 16/12/2022 | lanz