STEM Education a Priority for Developing Superior Human Resources, Says Minister

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti has stressed that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is a government priority for preparing superior human resources that are adaptive, innovative, and competitive amidst rapid digital technology development. “STEM is very important because we have very rich natural resources, but we do not yet have sufficient human resources to process them,” said Abdul Mu’ti during a visit to Koba, Central Bangka, on Thursday. He explained that the STEM approach integrates the learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into a single unit to encourage students to solve real problems faced in daily life. Through this approach, he said, students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills, creativity, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the ability to produce contextual solutions to various problems. To support the implementation of this programme, he assessed that improving the quality of educators, particularly in STEM study fields, is the first step that must be taken. “The first step we must take is to improve the quality of educators, especially in STEM study fields,” he stated. Furthermore, according to him, efforts to increase students’ interest in studying science and technology also pose a challenge that requires serious attention. Abdul Mu’ti emphasised that the successful development of STEM education requires collaboration from various parties, including the government, the community, and the business sector. “We need to synergise to run this programme, involving the government, the community, and the business world,” he said. He believes that strong synergy among stakeholders will strengthen educational services while increasing the younger generation’s interest in delving into STEM fields. “Of course, this will serve as a provision for facing technological developments and the needs of the future job market,” he stated.