STEM enrolment hits 50.83% for 2024, up from 41.84% in 2019, says Education Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 50.83% students enrolled for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) streams in 2024, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

This marked an almost 10 percentage point increase in the number of STEM student enrolments when compared to 2019 (41.84%), said the Education Ministry.

The ministry also pointed out that 47% of students enrolled for STEM subjects in 2020 with the number dropping to 40.95% in 2021 and 40.94% in 2022.

The number of STEM enrolments, however, increased to 45.73% in 2023.

The Ministry said they also identified several challenges in achieving the 60:40 target ratio for STEM students based on engagements with various stakeholders.

This includes students having the mindset that non-STEM fields gave equal opportunities of success as STEM fields.

“There is also low awareness and motivation among students and parents towards the advantages and opportunities offered by STEM professions.

“There is also the perception that STEM subjects are complicated, boring and unrelated to real world practices,” it said in a written Parliamentary reply on Tuesday (July 16).

It added that findings from the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2013-2025 also reported low awareness on STEM, the perception that STEM subjects are difficult, a packed curriculum, inconsistent teaching quality and learning, as well as insufficient and aged infrastructure.

The ministry also said it was undertaking various measures to increase STEM interest among students.

This includes implementing updated learning approaches and strengthening the curriculum towards inquiry based learning, projects, problem solving and disciplines which comprise high level thinking skills.

The Ministry was responding to a question by Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) who asked the Education Ministry about STEM enrolment rates since 2019.

Halimah also asked whether a comprehensive study was taken to identify reasons behind declining STEM uptake rates and efforts to improve STEM interest among rural and urban poor communities.