Space studies to take off from 2027
PETALING JAYA: Students will soon be learning about space as part of their school syllabus, says Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) director-general Datuk Azlikamil Napiah.
'The new syllabus is scheduled to be implemented in phases starting 2027,' Azlikamil said, adding that students would have the chance to learn subjects related to space, such as astronomy, physics, engineering, mathematics, biology and applied science.
'MYSA has been appointed as one of the key panel members by the Education Ministry to co-develop the new syllabus, which incorporates space science, technology and applications in the Science Subject,' he told StarEdu on Thursday.
Azlikamil said space technology would be an important pillar of Malaysia's STEM agenda, noting that space is among the most advanced fields globally.
This initiative is part of the Malaysia Space Exploration 2030 plan under Thrust 3: Driving the Development of Space Science and Technology and Building Expertise, which aims to strengthen space-related syllabus in national schools.
Experts welcome this move, saying it will make learning more engaging for young minds.
'Fields like astronomy and aerospace engineering naturally incorporate elements of physics, mathematics, computer science and even biology, bringing abstract classroom concepts to life in tangible and exciting ways,' National STEM Association president and founder Prof Emerita Datuk Dr Noraini Idris said.
'When students understand how Newton's laws apply to space flight, how coding is used to control robotic missions or how life may be explored beyond our planet, they begin to see the relevance and application of STEM beyond just exams and textbook content,' she added.
Prof Noraini also said linking STEM to the space sector could help address Malaysia's STEM talent shortage.
'According to the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, the country will require over one million STEM workers by 2030 to meet the demands of its high-tech industries, yet enrolments and graduates in STEM disciplines remain insufficient, whether in schools or universities,' she explained.
Closing this gap, she said, requires strengthening basic STEM education and building clearer pathways from classroom to industry – and the space sector offers strong potential for this.
Universiti Sains Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed also highlighted that space education would spark early curiosity and scientific inquiry among students.
'By encouraging them to ask questions like 'how does an aeroplane fly?', 'how do satellites stay in orbit?', or 'how do we decide where to place a satellite?', educators can nurture a deep interest in exploration and discovery,' he said.
He noted that hands-on projects, innovation challenges and classroom engineering activities could further build students' analytical skills and problem-solving abilities.
Prof Abdul Rahman agreed that with coordinated efforts from schools, universities and industry, Malaysia could secure a place in the fast-growing global space sector.
MYSA is a government agency under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, mandated to lead the development and operation of space technologies under the National Space Policy 2030.
By 2030, Azlikamil expects the space sector to contribute at least one percent (RM10bil) to the gross domestic product, create 5,000 job opportunities, achieve 50% self-reliance in space technology and generate a RM40mil annual data market.
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