The Scenario Of STEM Education In India

Before we begin discussing the context of STEM Education in India, let us begin by a brief introduction to STEM.

STEM is the collective teaching of four academic disciplines i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  It is based on an integrated and applied approach to teaching all four subjects. STEM was a term coined in an inter-agency meeting held at the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2001 and was considered worthwhile “to face the benefits and challenges of Globalization and Knowledge-based Economy”. (NSF) Some of the interdisciplinary fields such as astrophysics, biochemistry, computer science, robotics, nanotechnology, neurobiology, and many others are based on a core study of STEM subjects.Focusing on the teaching of scientific and technological subjects is expected to instill in the child critical, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills.

In today’s scenario, where the world is thriving in technology, it is very important to have technical and problem-solving skills. STEM Education develops skills in the students to become innovators and entrepreneurs of the future. A robust STEM-based Education will help the students not just be active users of technology but as innovators of technology too.

India is the sixth-largest economy in the world with a GDP of $ 2.6 trillion (2017), according to the database of the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook (WEO).  As per ASSOCHAM and Thought Arbitrage Research Institute, the labor force in the country is expected to grow up to 160-170 trillion by 2020 based on a rate of population growth, increased labor force participation, and higher education enrolment, among other factors.

STEM Education in India is a relatively new concept in the Indian Education Sector. Catering to the growing demand for scientific and technical skills, India is also revolutionizing its Education sector by focusing on STEM-based Education.  

STEM allows the students to have expertise in the four subjects and its sub-categories. The acquired skills help them to think critically and probe deeper into the causes and consequences of various things. The Technology and Innovation Report released in 2018 by UNCTAD pointed that out of the total number of graduates in STEM subjects, around 29.2% belonged to India. India has over 600 million youth as a part of its total population and therefore it is highly important that they are trained in the STEM subjects for the social and economic prosperity of the nation. STEM engages the students in the practical experience of things through Doing-by-learning methods. STEM curriculum will help the students gain real-world application of science and technology.

Also, there is a substantial increase in the number of jobs in STEM in sectors such as finance, banking, and information technology. There is a dire need of graduates for various job positions such as software engineer, web developer, business analyst, software architect, and SAP consultant. According to a report by NSF, it is predicted that around 80% of the jobs will require scientific and technical skills. STEM Learning will inspire the students to take up job positions in the technical fields.

In India, Schools, Colleges, Universities are incorporating a STEM-based curriculum to promote critical thinking and scientific temperament in the students. In fact, the schools are emphasizing on STEM Education at all the level – Kindergarten, Primary, Middle, and Senior Secondary classes. The students are given hands-on experience in technology. However, much more still needs to be done to make it more inclusive. Various innovations are being done in the curriculum to cultivate essential social skills in the students.

The Government of India has also taken various measures to integrate STEM learning in the National Education Policy. The policy seeks to encourage and implement exciting mentor-based programs to develop the interest of the students towards science and technology and in turn, inspire them to meet the challenges of the global, technology-driven society through innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. One such program taken up by the Government of India is Atal Lab Solution. The initiative has been taken under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) at NITI Aayog with the prime objective of encouraging computational skills, adaptive learning, and design thinking.

The GOI also organized India’s largest Robotics Competition in collaboration with National Council of
Science Museums, Ministry of Culture and supported by the Department of Science and Technology. The Robotics Competition was organized for children of age groups 9 to 15 years and 17 to 25 years. In this, a team of 3-6 kids was encouraged to explore real-world problems such as recycling, energy, food safety etc. with relevant field visits and research. Majority of the engineers and scientists come from India, and this has resulted in the growth of STEM over the last few years. However, despite a good number of STEM graduates every year, India is still witnessing a shortage of talent in the scientific and technical fields. This is due to the fact that there is a difference between the academic curriculum and the industry expectations.

A huge gender disparity is also evident in the STEM Sectors. The labor participation of the women, especially in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is almost the lowest in the world. It is because the logical and critical skills are considered to be the domain of the male. According to an estimate of UNESCO, only 14% of the researchers in India are women. Women are less likely to pursue a career in STEM fields. There is a lack of support a woman receives from her family and children to take up a job in the technical fields. Both men and women hold the belief that family and household duties are primarily the responsibility of women. The society also projects a self-sacrificing woman as the ideal mother, wife, and a daughter, even if that means a sacrifice of her career.

For effective implementation of STEM, adequate funding should be done to promote STEM education in the schools, colleges, and at the university level. The Education sector in India should brush up the younger mind in the requisite technical and scientific skills and provide them with the resources and skills for the same.  Campaigns, rallies, and other social media platforms must be used to generate awareness about STEM Education.