NEWS: Robotics in 300 schools

The Education Ministry’s pilot project aims to encourage students to be creative and innovative.

STUDENTS in 300 primary and secondary schools have started studying Robotics in a pilot project.

Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the pilot project was introduced earlier this year in both urban and rural schools.
Alimuddin (right) checks out John’s gold medal as his team members Benjamin (second from left) and Cheng En (third from left) look on. The team will represent Malaysia in the World Robot Olympiad in Korea next month.

“Robotics is something new which we are introducing into the school curriculum. It encourages students to be creative and innovative,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to the winners of the National Robotics Competition (NRC) 2009.

Alimuddin said the ministry had also encouraged the establishment of robotics clubs in schools.

Organised by the Education Ministry, the National Science Centre and Sasbadi Sdn Bhd, he said the objectives of the NRC were to help students build a solid foundation in Mathematics, Science, Technology, Design and ICT, work together as a team, enhance creativity and promote robotics among students.

He said 26 primary school and 52 secondary school teams competed in the NRC finals, with the winners of each category representing Malaysia at the World Robot Olympiad to be held in Pohang, South Korea in November.

He said Malaysia won a gold, two silver and two bronze medals from the World Robot Olympiad in 2008.

SJKC Jalan Davidson Year Five pupil Benjamin Phang Shin Yoong said he and his team mates, John Leong and Tan Cheng En, were happy to come out tops in the primary school open category in the NRC.

“We worked on our project for six months and are excited about representing Malaysia at the World Robot Olympiad,” he said.

Music that was incorporated into the team’s robotic project came from the angklung (a musical instrument made of bamboo) and special computer software, he added.