Shah alam: The Selangor government is calling for increased collaboration from the private sector and industry to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education among school students. This initiative aims to accelerate the empowerment of students in these crucial fields.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari emphasized that industry involvement is vital to expedite the process and support state initiatives aimed at strengthening students' technical and vocational exposure. Amirudin highlighted the importance of private sector participation to shift understanding towards science, technology, automation, and digitalisation.

Addressing a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Sijangkang) during the Selangor State Assembly sitting, Amirudin, who also serves as the state Education and Human Capital Development Committee chairman, announced plans for the Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC) to engage with secondary schools starting next year. This outreach aims to identify and nurture students interested in STEM fields.

The new initiative is designed to provide better preparation for students, differing from the previous practice of seeking admission post-SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia). Amirudin stressed the importance of engaging students at both upper and lower secondary levels to create a pathway that ensures they are prepared and interested in exploring science and technology, particularly in high-performance technical and vocational fields.