State Executive Councillor Aznan Tamin has announced that Johor aims to boost the number of students pursuing science-related tertiary education to address its future demand for a skilled workforce, particularly with the upcoming Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. According to the State Education and Information Committee chairman, data from the Higher Education Ministry reveals that science-related programs are currently underrepresented in the top 10 choices of students for tertiary education.
At a youth employment program in Skudai, he noted that the Diploma in Early Childhood Education has emerged as a leading choice among SPM leavers who did not pursue the science stream in secondary school. This program has become their top preference in their UPU online applications.
Aznan said this was a key reason for the state's decision to introduce a pilot school project, expected to launch next year. “The pilot school is our first step towards introducing more students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. We want to highlight STEM as an important field of study in Johor,” he said.
“Some of the secondary schools I have visited only have one science stream class. This is why I have requested our Education Department to establish at least two or three science stream classes in the future". He added that the project aims to produce a skilled workforce as long-term support for industries slated to boom in the JS-SEZ.
He made this statement after the closing ceremony of the Young Employable Students (YES) Rock The School Johor event at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai. Aznan explained that implementing the plan right away is not practical, so the state government will begin with a pilot project involving two secondary and two primary schools before extending it to other schools across Johor.
“Our main aim is to supply the industry’s demand for a skilled workforce. We hope that having more science stream students will help achieve this goal. We want our younger generation to support the economic growth we are fostering in the state,” he added.
Aznan also shared that the state government has introduced the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC), which includes learning institutions and industry players. “We currently have 108 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) modules in Johor, curated by industry and learning institutions to reduce talent mismatch in the state. JTDC also plays a crucial role in sharing information on the latest skills and technologies needed by the industry. This will help learning institutions better prepare our local talents when they graduate”, he explained.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz has been reported to say that the state government aims to launch pilot schools next year to improve the state’s education system. "This aligns with the directive of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who emphasized the importance of high-quality education. Special attention will be given to mastering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as the English language", he said.
