JOHOR BARU: As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries worldwide, a growing number of Malaysian children are equipping themselves with robotics and coding skills, reflecting a rising interest in technology-driven careers.
National Robotics League (NRL) organising chairman Shawn Yap (pic) said the steady rise in participation since the competition’s inception in 2019 reflected increasing awareness among parents and students on the importance of technology-related skills.
He said the inaugural edition of the competition attracted about 200 participants, with the number growing annually to around 500 last year and more than 600 this year.
“In total, we have recorded 850 registrations throughout the three-day event.
“The participants are divided into 23 groups based on their age and skill levels, competing across six categories,” he said during the opening ceremony of NRL at a shopping mall here yesterday.
Yap said competitors came from 11 states nationwide, as well as Brunei and Thailand, giving the event an increasingly international character.
He said winners will earn the opportunity to represent Malaysia at the international finals in South Korea on Nov 29.
He said that the growing number of young participants in this year’s NRL is an encouraging sign for the future of Malaysia’s robotics and technology industries.
Yap, a former teacher, urged the Education Ministry to provide more training opportunities for instructors and school teachers, saying well-trained educators could have a greater impact by inspiring hundreds of students under their guidance.
He added that robotics and coding education opens doors to a wide range of careers, including information technology, computer science, engineering, mechatronics and healthcare, where professionals are increasingly required to work with advanced technologies and robotic systems.
