All things technical

School students say they want more exposure to digital education including robotics and coding. - File photo

MALAYSIA has got big dreams to create a society that can thrive in the fourth industrial revolution (IR4.0).

To do this, the government has been hard at work trying to instil a love for all things tech in its students.

One method is to teach digital skills via the revised Primary School Standard-based Curriculum (KSSR) and Secondary School Standard-based Curriculum (KSSM) since 2017.

The eleventh shift of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 also talks about leveraging on ICT to scale up quality learning across Malaysia.

The skills and competencies identified as important for success in today’s globalised environment will be fully embedded in the curricula, for example, the continued emphasis on science practical lessons and use of ICT.

The ministry will ensure that it prepares students with the skills required to meet the challenges of a world that is being transformed by the application of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

They plan on doing this by raising student interest through new learning approaches and an enhanced curriculum: Incorporating higher-order thinking skills, increasing use of practical teaching tools and making the content relevant to everyday life to increase interest.

Last August, Communication and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo even suggested creating a technology stream in schools for students to cater to the growing demand for talent in a changing digital world.

Though these aspirations are commendable, students who have gone through the system think more needs to be done if the government really wants to create a responsible, tech-savvy and innovative society through the education system.