Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici launched a campaign aimed at creating awareness on the importance of the furtherance of education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The campaign, entitled START STEM, is being piloted by the Science Centre within the Directorate for Learning & Assessment Programmes (DLAP).
Minister Owen Bonnici said; “As a government we are highly committed to strengthening STEM education on a national level. Through 3 main pillars, we are aiming to enhancing the educational sector in relation to STEM. These three pillars are: STEM Curricula reform, STEM Educator Support and Professional Development, as well as STEM Popularization.”
“This campaign,” Minister Bonnici said, “aligns with our Ministry’s vision of providing quality STEM Education to all students, to sustain social, economic and environmental development on a global level. The campaign primarily targeting students, their parents/guardians and the general public, features six clips that will be publicized through both social media ad television channels. The campaign START STEM promotes a positive, vibrant, energetic expression reflecting the dynamic nature of STEM studies and careers. The campaign strategy, design and production are the result of the professional work of the STEM Education Officers within the Science Centre.”
STEM Education in Malta, the Minister said, is evolving in the right direction as it enhances the curricular pedagogical shift to an enquiry-based approach that promotes learners’ engagement, learning and achievement. In this context, the role of trained professional teachers is pivotal to mentor and nurture the next generation of STEM innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. The extent of national priority and investment in STEM Education will eventually be reflected in the degree of innovation in society and in public economic prosperity.
The holistic initiative was co-sponsored through GENE (Global Education Network Europe) project funding.
