STEM Education in Malaysia: An Organisational Development Approach?

Abstract

A new breath has taken place to re-position STEM education based on its importance in providing a skilled STEM workforce, which is crucial for Malaysia. The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) have launched strategic plans to boost students’ enrolment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to develop a STEM-literate society and high-quality and sufficient workforce in Malaysia. Institut Aminuddin Baki (IAB), the leadership training centre in MoE, collaborate with Curriculum Development Division (BPK) have piloted a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Executive Consultation (STEMEC) project under the Malaysia Educational Blueprint 2013-2025 (MEB) Initiative #49 in 2019. The project aims to strengthen integrated STEM Education in 32 primary and secondary schools by providing pupils with continuous meaningful STEM learning experiences. The STEMEC conceptual framework is grounded in the organisation development approach to develop model STEM schools that others can benchmark on holistically implementing integrated STEM education. In addition, the pilot project introduced an instrument that can assist schools in planning, implementing and accessing integrated STEM education, which impacts their strategically crafted integrative learning experiences.