The Association for Science and Mathematics Education Penang, popularly referred to as ASMEP was founded in 1966. It is a professional body dedicated to enhance the quality of Science and Mathematics education. It also strives to foster and widen the interest in Science and Mathematics among teachers and students in the State of Penang. It is the first association of its kind to be established in Malaysia.
The founding of ASMEP was the result of the hard work and dedication of a group of Malayan Teachers’ College (MTC) lecturers and Mathematics and Science teachers in Penang.
On 28 March 1966 Mr. Ganasalingam (the protem Chairman) together with Mr. Tan Teik Kee (the protem Secretary) sent an application to the Registrar of Society seeking registration for ASMEP.
This group of founder members were so enthusiatic that on 30 June 1966 Mr. Tan Teik Kee wrote a letter to the Assistant Registrar of Society in Penang for permission to start activities pending the registration of the Association.
The Registrar of Society Kuala Lumpur in a letter dated 7 July 1966 allowed the Association to carry out activities pending the approval for registration provided no new members were recruited. At that time there were 41 founder members.
The General Meeting to institute the Association was held on 22 September 1966 at Penang Free School.
In 1975 the ASMEP committee decided to have an emblem for the Association. Mr. Yong Bong Shin, the Secretary at that time, wrote to the Registrar of Society on 30 April 1975. The Assistant Registrar of Society in Penang replied in June that there was no provision in the ASMEP Constitution for a ‘lambang’. So we had to amend the Constitution during the 1976 AGM and the ASMEP emblem has been in use since then.
The Association was originally known as ‘Persatuan Pendidikan Sains dan Ilmu Hisab Pulau Pinang’ in Bahasa Malaysia. At the 24th AGM held on 24 February 1990, a resolution was adopted to change it to ‘Persatuan Pendidikan Sains dan Matematik Pulau Pinang’. The Registrar of Society gave the approval to use this new name w.e.f. 29 August 1990.
The Association organised talks, seminars, workshops on topics which were of professional importance and of interest to Mathematics and Science teachers at all levels.
One of the activities of ASMEP was the Annual State Science and Mathematics Exhibition of which ASMEP was the main organiser in collabolation with the Penang State Education Department. Prizes were awarded for the best exhibits in various catogories. The students and their teacher advisers were creative and innovative in presenting their various projects.
Visits and field trips were organised to places of scientific interest. I remember the visit to the Penang Bridge which was still under construction. We were taken to mid-channel by boat to see the main bridge span under construction. The chief engineer himself briefed us.
A jounal called SainSab was published annually and distributed free to members.
ASMEP was also involved in producing teaching-learning materials useful to Science and Mathematics teachers and students such as single sheet graph paper, experimental kits, teachers’ guides and slides/video tapes on laboratory safety.
The Association was even involved in international events such as RECSAM planning for the Fifth ICASE Asian Symposium held in RECSAM in December 1986.
Together with USM, ASMEP played host to the IOSTE South East Asian Regional Symposium on Science and Technology Education in March/April 2000. It was held at the Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Penang. IOSTE stands for International Organization for Science and Technology Education.