Kuala Lumpur: Despite rising enrollment in STEM among Malaysian students in 2024 which is 50.83%, data reveals a concerning trend that students feel left out of a career direction in pursuing study after SPM. A report through Student Voices Matter 2024 (SVM24) surveys shows one in two students doesn’t have a clear picture of what they want to pursue in their tertiary education. As highlighted from Teach For Malaysia 2024, students from families with limited education backgrounds and diverse careers are often less-connected with insight to the vast range of job opportunities. This could be an alarm for parents, teachers and policy makers.
Recently, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that he aims 70% students from SBP schools to join the STEM stream to support policy 60:40 through Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia 2013-2025 (PPPM 2013-2025). This indicates that the country in needs for students to join the science stream. However, increasing STEM enrollment especially in science related fields, also needs an improvement in terms of career guidance for students to have solid understanding of where the courses lead. Few possible steps should be considered that might lower the surge in career unreadiness and low employability skills in future generations.
How Collaboration with Industry Can Bridge the Gap
Schools should implement proper structure of annual programs to have more involvement through collaboration with big companies such as Biotropic Malaysia, DuoPharma, MARDI and Cypark Resources. In addition, the Ministry of Education, Fadhlina Sidek also announced that “STEM For All’ program will give early exposure to primary schools to learn about STEM. This is important to have collaboration with industry and universities which benefit pupils at a young age in science related fields. An initiative like “YES! Rock the School” programme by TalentCorp and Closing The Gap is a great move to ensure industry exposure, employability and increased interest in STEM while encouraging them to pursue tertiary education. A well maintained and balanced such a program from primary schools to secondary schools might give more career readiness and awareness among students.
A Dual-Focus Learning Approach for Career Readiness
Apart from institutional and industry programmes, schools must also encourage teachers to switch from a content-driven to dual-focus approach where connecting lessons to real-world job opportunities and industry applications. Even though the schools might lack in programs related to STEM, atleast teacher can be the one who guides and exposes about career to the students. Take as an example from Canada, Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs allow teachers to integrate lessons with career pathways or partnership with local industries to ensure students develop skills for their future related careers.
Leveraging Social Media to Engage Students
Governments can increase in engaging with popular platforms as reported by Merdeka Center 2024 such as Tiktok, Facebook or Instagram to promote career guidance in science fields. Collaboration with popular content creators to share information about STEM related careers can capture interest among Gen Z. Since a 2024 poll from UCSI Poll Research Centre, 34% students prefer becoming influencers and this proves that influencers might be the sources of attraction toward nowadays generation.
A Call to Action
If Malaysia is to fulfill its ambitions of becoming a leader in STEM, career guidance must start early and be integrated across all levels of education. Teachers, schools, and even social media platforms must collaborate to ensure that students have a clear understanding of their future career paths. Let’s empower the next generation to pursue STEM with purpose and passion.
Authors:
Mohd Syahin Muhamad Fadzli
Master’s Student, Education (Biology)
Mohd Mokhzani Ibrahim
Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM)
