Special Initiatives in Mathematics and Science Education

Several initiatives have been implemented to strengthen mathematics and science achievement among students from the first grade to the tertiary level. Literacy and Numeracy Screening (LINUS) is a remedial program designed to ensure that students acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills during the first three years of primary school. Program screening is administered by schools three times a year to identify students in Grades 1 to 3 who do not meet basic literacy and numeracy skill objectives. The first screening test was conducted in March 2010 for all Grade 1 students. Students who do not meet the defined objectives are placed in a remedial program.

Another initiative to enhance student performance in mathematics and science is the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, designed to prepare students with skills to meet the challenges of science and technology and to ensure that Malaysia has a sufficient number of qualified STEM graduates. Measures taken to support the STEM initiative include stimulating student interest in STEM through new learning approaches and an enhanced curriculum, sharpening the skills and abilities of teachers in STEM, and building public and student awareness of STEM. Strategies implemented to support the STEM initiative include increasing the number of instructional periods for science, developing the BLOSSOM (Blended Open Source Science or Math Studies) video, upgrading science laboratories in secondary schools, and upgrading science rooms into laboratories in primary schools.¹⁴