Govt not sidelining students who pursue studies in non-science fields: Kamalanathan

SUNGAI BULOH: The government is not sidelining students who are interested in pursuing their studies in non-science fields, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan (pix) stressed.
He said non-science courses in Malaysia is just as important as core courses in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
He said the government has already placed a target of 60:40 science/non-science ratio in preparing Malaysia to achieve the standard of developed nation by 2020.
"Are literature courses (non-science)not important? No. We need the involvement of students in the field," he said.
"We have prepared the pathways to ensure all of our children will be able to gain their education adequately," he told a press conference after opening the Direction of Graduate Education Opportunities Programme at SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh.
Kamalanathan also noted that there have been a surplus of students showing keen interest to pursue their education in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
He said the government's TVET learning institutions however could not cope with the numbers of applications received every year.
"The applications are much more than the places available. We are hoping that private institutions can support the need of our children," he said.
Kamalanathan said Malaysia needs to develop its own skilled workers without relying on foreign workforce, and TVET courses could fill the vacuum in that aspect.
"When we become a developed nation, we cannot be dependant to foreign skills, we need to produce our own talent. We are in the midst of creating our own skilled workforce," he added.