CYBERJAYA – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has proposed that starting next year, at least 70% of students in fully residential schools enroll in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) stream to enhance national expertise in these vital sectors.
Anwar, who also serves as finance minister, emphasized the urgency of increasing student participation in STEM, citing its importance in Malaysia’s future development.
“We must ensure that at least 70% of students entering boarding schools and residential colleges choose STEM,” he said during a Ramadan gathering with corporate leaders and government-linked companies (GLCs) this evening.
He highlighted the presence of major tech investors in Malaysia, including Infineon, Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft, and expressed concern that local students were not gravitating towards STEM subjects despite the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
To address this, Anwar has directed the education ministry and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) to introduce measures encouraging STEM education. Previously, he had urged the education ministry to focus on science, mathematics, and English to align with evolving global trends in AI, digital technology, and sustainable energy.
Additionally, Anwar called on corporate entities and GLCs to “adopt” schools and assist in resolving infrastructure challenges. He instructed Treasury secretary-general Johan Mahmood Merican and the implementation coordination unit of the Prime Minister’s Department to collaborate with the education ministry on this initiative.
“In 2023, we identified 8,600 school toilets in critical condition. It’s unacceptable that our students have to use such facilities,” he said. He stressed the importance of immediate action, suggesting that directly overseeing improvements in 200 schools could have a meaningful impact.