Making STEM Inclusive for All
Bridging the digital gap between urban and rural schools in Malaysia
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Making STEM Inclusive for All
Many great ideas stem from necessity and this can certainly be said of the Tenom Innovation Centre (TIC).
Founder Cikgu Anuthra Sirisena found it unacceptable that some schools lacked digital learning even in this 21st century. Soon after, the TIC makerspace kicked off, benefiting 10% of schools in Tenom, Sabah.
Today, the Education Impact Area grant recipient caters to all 46 schools in the district.
“That means the entire education community has access to digital learning, robotics and programming, which schools outside Tenom have had for many, many years,” Anuthra explains.
Head of Education Dr Anuar Abdul Muthalib describes TIC as a “ground-up programme lead by teachers who see the need and take it upon themselves to go beyond their duty,” working after official hours and weekends.
The effort hasn’t been for naught as two Form 3 students from SMJK Chung Hwa — one of the schools benefitting from TIC — relate.
Amelia Baxter is glad that unlike other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities she joined before, TIC is “not a boys’ club” and gives her “more reason to be excited to come to school and accomplish something.”
Participant-turned-mentor, Syazwi Ismail enthuses about how much he “loves everything about TIC”. Although a student mentoring teachers may be atypical, he enjoys the sharing of experience and ideas.[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]Cikgu Rita Doreen too has grown with the programme through learning coding. “We cannot underestimate the students living in rural areas!” says the SJK(C) Pada teacher who values journeying with them as they embrace this new knowledge.