Only 25 per cent of Sabah students in Science stream

 By Olivia Miwil - December 8, 2021 @ 4:48pm

Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation minister Datuk Yakub Khan during the state Assembly Sitting. -Pic courtesy of Sabah Information Department

KOTA KINABALU: Only 25 per cent of students in Sabah are in the science stream, said state Science, Technology and Innovation minister Datuk Yakub Khan.

He said the small percentage was due to the belief that science was a difficult subject to study.

"The ministry is actively organising various programmes in inculcating the culture of science, technology and innovation (STI)/ science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through collaborations with federal and state government agencies.

"It is one of the efforts to ensure the ratio of 60 per cent Science students and 40 per cent in arts stream," he said while winding up for the state assembly sitting here.

Among the programmes were the Sabah Science Carnival 2021, Sabah International Virtual Innovation and Invention Competition, PitchBorneo 2021, RoboNeo Online 2021 and Sabah Government Web Competition.

Yakub said with the RM1.5 million development budget under 12th Malaysia Plan, his ministry would make use of it to develop STI centres at Sabah libraries in phases next year starting with its branch in Keningau.

The ministry will also work with the federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) to develop the Sabah branch National Science Centre next year.

In collaboration with Petroliam Nasional Berhad, he added Sabah would also see the building of similar centres for libraries in Sandakan and Tawau.

Yakub also said the ministry was also putting focus on human capital development in science, technology, technical and vocational education and training.

"This year, the ministry offered scholarships to 1,792 people for courses ranging from diploma to doctorate levels.

"The total sponsored students (under the ministry) is 5,223 including 30 who studied overseas."