STEM
RATIONALE
The global economy is changing. Current jobs are disappearing globally due to automation and new jobs are emerging every day as a result of technological advances. The continual advances in technology are changing the way students learn, connect and interact every day. Skills developed by students through STEM provide them with the foundation to succeed at school and beyond.
Employer demand for STEM qualifications and skills is high, and will continue to increase in the future. Currently, 75 per cent of jobs in the fastest growing industries require workers with STEM skills.
ROLE OF STEM IN GROOMING OF YOUTH
STEM has an effective way to engage students in high-level thinking, and improve problem-solving skills by placing science and mathematics in the context of technology and engineering. Giving students the opportunity to obtain hands-on experiences helps them gain meaningful learning and improve their cognitive abilities. Cognitive skills are the mental capabilities needed to successfully learn academic subjects. Underlying cognitive skills must function well to efficiently and easily read, think, prioritize, understand, plan, remember, and solve problems.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
The primary motive for providing STEM education in Pakistan is to develop a 21stcentury workforce for Pakistan with the capability of integrating applied experience and theoretical knowledge across disciplines to solve real-world problems. Individuals steeped in STEM-based learning are expected to acquire a balance of hard and soft skills, including communication, collaboration, problem solving, leadership, creativity, and innovation. Individuals with a STEM background will be able to advance as entrepreneurs who create businesses with a STEM focus, engineers who can solve problems requiring interdisciplinary solutions, and scientists who are able to address complex questions of science which have both applied and theoretical dimensions. STEM SCAFFOLDING IN PAKISTAN.
In Pakistan the STEM system shall be adjutant to the existing school education system. Initially 50 (fifty) pure Government Higher Secondary Schools (HSSs) including six (6) Cadet Colleges [total 50] will be selected from all over the country, in consultation with the provincial stakeholder departments. Selection of HSSs for STEM has two-fold advantage: first, these schools are administrated by a single Head up-to grade-12; and second, usually the HSSs have fewer resources as compared to model schools and colleges, so the STEM project will also play an important role in overall development of the school system. MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE STEM PROJECT
- 1. To officially launch STEM, the modern tool for promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education in Pakistan (in 50 HSS/Cadet Colleges in 1st phase).
- 2. To coordinate provision of specialized national and international capacity building programs on STEM education for science teachers and pedagogues.
- 3. To coordinate development, introduction and adoption of modern pedagogical tools & interventions for STEM including STEM framework/global best practices like IBSE/ LAMAP.
- 4. To equip our youth with meaningful learning through hands-on experiences, and improve their cognitive abilities.
- 5. To develop entrepreneurship skills amongst students through STEM education to make them job givers instead of job seekers.