THE FIRST Tech Challenge, which is said to be a very challenging robotic competition, was successfully organised by the Penang Science Cluster (PSC) and participated by 12 schools recently.
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy said the competition was instrumental in stirring the interest in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects among school students.
“PSC has come a long way since it was established 10 years ago, starting with programmes for the primary pupils.
“I understand that this competition, organised for the first time in Malaysia, was held for Form 4 students.
“The FIRST Tech Challenge has played a pivotal role in unleashing students’ talents in the STEM field,” Ramasamy said during his speech at the competition’s grand finale and award presentation ceremony on June 25 at the PSC in Wisma Yeap Chor Ee in Gat Lebuh China.
Meanwhile, PSC founding director Datuk Yoon Chon Leong said Malaysia’s economic competitiveness relies on the depth and quality of our talent pipeline.
“In today’s increasingly competitive and difficult geopolitical environment, local talent has become the most valuable asset a country can possess.
“Over the last decade, Malaysia struggled to upgrade its talent base, especially in the field of STEM, and today we are still struggling to develop sufficient talent in ‘three smarts’, namely book smart, hands-on smart and street smart.
“The PSC was formed to address this very problem. We started working with the primary schools and are now providing support to the middle and senior secondary schools,” said Yoon.
Yoon also said the FIRST Tech Challenge was designed in a way that is relevant to both industry and school curriculums.
“In this competition, each school was given a basic starter kit, including a robotic controller and some financial support.
“They had to come up with a machine solution to overcome a simplified real industrial challenge and compete with other teams to see who delivers the best.
“For the key part, each team was also assigned with mentors who are engineers from the industry,” he added.
A total of 14 teams participated from a total of 12 schools.
They were SMK Convent Green Lane, SMK Permatang Pasir, Methodist Girls School, SMK Bukit Jambul, St Xavier’s Institution, SMK Bertam Indah, SMJK Heng Ee Bayan Baru, SMK Chung Ling Butterworth, SMK Convent Datuk Keramat, Penang Chinese Girls High School, SMK Berapit and SMK Pauh Jaya.
The team ‘Robodes’ from SMK Chung Ling Butterworth emerged as the champion and received prize money of RM1,500 together with a trophy and medals.
Second place went to St Xavier’s Institution team Space Saints, which won a prize money of RM1,200 as well as received medals.
‘Absolute Hack’ from SMK Heng Ee Bayan Baru bagged third place and was awarded RM1,000 cash while SMK Heng Ee Bayan Baru’s team ‘Robusta’ took fourth place and the prize money of RM800.
The recipients of special mention awards were team ‘Golden Galaxy’ from SMK Bukit Jambul for Judges’ Choice (RM400), ‘Robodes’ from SMK Chung Ling Butterworth for Motivate Award (RM400), ‘Robusta’ from SMK Heng Ee for Design Award (RM600) and team ‘Zero’ from SMK Convent Datuk Keramat for Compass Award (RM400).
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad