Re-think teaching of science

Disturbing: Recent reports of some schools in Malaysia not having suitable science laboratories are very disturbing and does not augur well for the teaching of science. — Bloomberg

THERE have been disturbing reports about the decline in the number of students doing science in schools. Though the government has earlier set the ratio of science to arts students at 60:40 as a matter of policy, the actual ratio is much lower.

Some are saying it may be more like 20:80 in favour of the arts. At the rate things are shaping up, it will be a tough challenge for the government to increase the number of research scientists and engineers (RSEs) in the country. The government target of 60 RSEs per 10,000 members of the national workforce by 2020 does not look achievable.