Jobs perspective of STEM education
A variety of products and companies have restructured our lives since the start of time. Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, you name it. It is no wonder that STEM powers them all. One may imagine the influence of STEM education on culture and economies. The point is, if you seem to be engrossed in something, anything, there is a STEM job counterpart.
The STEM paradox
However, the demand of STEM job is still missing, not because there isn’t enough fascination or apprehension of its significance, but because we are just not yet suited to fit such roles. If we take it a level deeper the main reason behind is the unavailability of STEM education in our daily lives. It is something which is not being established or dispensed early enough.
The following stats help support my argument.
Over the course of 10years, the number of STEM jobs are expected to increase 8% which is higher when compared to the expected number of non-STEM jobs (Via the US Bureau of Labor Statistics). National Science Foundation (NSF) estimated that 80% of the jobs available during the next decade require math and science. Since 1990 the employment rate has increased to 79% in STEM occupations, reaching a high of 17.3million (Via a 2018 article from Pew Research Center). The annual wage of STEM occupation is almost double when compared to non-STEM employment (Via the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
STEM- the power house
It is safe to say that STEM is paramount- an economic driver which presents opportunity. All we need to do is prepare more people to fulfill such opportunity. Basically, the objective is to boost attitude towards STEM and polishing STEM career interest. A number of studies conducted have concluded a positive correlation between the two (Rehmat, 2015; Lou and others, 2011). Moreover, critical thinking and problem solving are the STEM skills, relevant to almost every single career and actually in demand for most.
The expertise of STEM is being integrated to genetic concepts, for research analysis and result compilation, and has exhibited successful enhancement towards retention of fundamental concepts.
The children of today are known to be comfortable with technology than our predecessors, however, its not enough. Students require a solid foundation to engage in careers where technical knowledge, problem-solving, and relationship-building are crucial elements of the field.
One way is to encourage students to take part in STEM learning which could help open potential to pursue a career in the field. A great way to assist this is by tacking real-world obstacles in academic settings.
Conclusion
The last word is that STEM needs to be where our kids are. It needs to be in the sport the child is playing, the reality show they are hooked to, the super hero they are emulating. It’s not those kids don’t have the capacity to “fit in” STEM but rather time needs to be reshaped to include STEM.
STEM education comprises an interconnected entity of disciplines with a vigorous collaborative association to life.
By; Areena Suhail Khan
COMSATS Islamabad
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