SMK (Felda) Seri Sendayan students win robotics competition

NILAI - Two Form two students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (Felda) Seri Sendayan emerged as champions in a robotics competition held in conjunction with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Day organised by the Mechanical Engineering Department (JKM), Nilai Polytechnic.

Putra Danish Haikal Azan Huzzaie and Muhammad Zaim Eddi Hamka, both 14, from the ‘Hex Dimension’ team made the most of the two-day learning session during the competition to learn about coding and robotics under the guidance of a facilitator from Nilai Polytechnic’s Diploma in Mechatronic Engineering programme.

The duo won the competition with their robot, beating their closest rivals from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Enstek in the finals.

"We have not been exposed to the mechatronics subject as it is part of the syllabus for Form Five.

"Before taking part in the competition, we didn’t know much about coding. But now, we have a knowledge on build a robot and operate it, as well as on coding and control system,” Putra Danish Haikal told reporters.

The STEM Robotic Camp, held in conjunction with the JKM STEM Robotics Day which lasted for three days starting May 30, was participated by 10 teams comprising 20 students from secondary schools around Labu, Nilai and Enstek.

Meanwhile, Nilai Polytechnic director Wan Zulkifly Wan Zakaria said the programme was held to unearth the potential of school students in STEM-related subjects, in line with the Higher Education Ministry’s goal to strengthen STEM through the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2013-2025.

He said the objective of the programme was to provide technology-related knowledge to students and create a culture of innovation among them. - BERNAMA