PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry has allocated RM100,000 towards integrating the culture of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in schools.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the funds would be given to 10 schools to start a pilot project towards integrating STEM culture in schools.
She said the ministry has given teachers two weeks to come up with ideas to integrate the STEM culture in schools before application starts.
"The term is 'culture' so there would be criterias of integrating the STEM culture through activities and programmes (in schools). That is what we will look into (when choosing the schools).
"The teachers have two weeks to send in the application and the ministry will choose the school which can provide and create an ecosystem of STEM culture.
"This also includes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and digitalisation in the respective schools," she said.
Fadhlina added that the ministry would detail out the criterias in a circular letter soon.
On another matter, she said all 966 dilapidated schools were upgraded as of last year through the School Upgrading and Redevelopment Project with 80 per cent of the schools being in Sabah and Sarawak.
She said they have also allocated RM70,000 to all government schools for toilet upgrading works and small maintenance works which would start in March this year.
The ministry has also issued guidelines on bullying and sexual harassment along with implementing steps towards lessen the burden of teachers.