Face Off: Should STEM courses be mandatory for all students?
- Each week, two of our readers debate a hot topic in a showdown that does not necessarily reflect their personal viewpoints
- This week, teens discuss whether science, technology, engineering and maths courses should be required at school
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For: STEM education is not only beneficial, but it also teaches necessary skills
Vijay Narayanan, 13, Island School
Contrary to popular belief, STEM is not a new concept. It was introduced in 2001 by administrators at the US National Science Foundation. Since then, the idea has become an integral part of education systems around the world. However, there is still some resistance from students, teachers and parents when asked whether STEM courses should be mandatory.
STEM education provides you with a valuable skill set, allowing you to think critically, form opinions and increase your creativity. It develops your analytical and creative skills, and makes you a better team player, a much-needed skill in the modern workforce.
A 2017 study by the US Department of Commerce revealed that STEM occupations were growing at a whopping rate of 24 per cent, compared to other occupations growing at a measly rate of 4 per cent. The same study found that STEM workers earn 29 per cent more than their non-STEM counterparts.
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Collaborative working leads to better solutions. Schools that provide STEM education often allow students to create projects in a collaborative environment. Not only does this build their independence, but students also create lasting relationships in a team setting, turning the classroom into a fun and interactive learning environment.
STEM education is heavily focused on the idea of project-based learning, such as creating a design portfolio, making a group presentation or programming. This type of learning introduces students to the concepts of time management and how to break complicated projects down into simple steps.
STEM education gives us the necessary skills to operate in our digital world. With the advent of the pandemic, it has become ever more important for students to learn how to work with new technologies. The heavy emphasis on technical skills helps students gain a better footing when they join the workforce.
As times change, the education system must change too. For a more effective society, STEM courses seem to be the way to go.
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Against: What’s the point of forcing students to study what they’re not interested in?
Janice Mook, 18, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Imagine a plate of food that you hate is put in front of you at dinner. You immediately lose your appetite. Similarly, if students are faced with a subject that they have zero passion for, what’s the point of forcing them to study it?
STEM is useful, but it does not fit everyone’s interests. Students who are passionate about STEM will go the extra mile to dig into it. However, that does not apply to the rest of us. Some students are certain that they will not work in the STEM fields, so why waste their time?
Not everyone is gifted in STEM-related principles. According to a study in America, the major reason given for not pursuing a STEM degree is that these subjects are too difficult. Do you want to work on the same coding task for hours or days when you are not tech-savvy or even remotely interested? Anyone?
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As a result, STEM is a curse for those who do not excel in it. They end up sacrificing their sleep just to figure out all these complicated concepts. This usually backfires for low-achieving students – not only are they demotivated to catch up with classes, but in the long term, this takes a toll on their health.
It also has an opportunity cost. For example, some students might have to spend a week on a chapter of biology when they could easily understand philosophical ideas in a day. If STEM courses are made mandatory, they will have to allocate less time to their stronger subjects to prioritise STEM studies.
STEM courses are mostly about technical principles. What about empathy, the ability to appreciate art and beauty, and the people skills needed to resolve interpersonal conflicts? Workplace competency encompasses both technical skills and emotional intelligence. The latter is the soft skill that differentiates candidates with similar STEM backgrounds, and it is what the job market values in a leader.
STEM courses equip us with the skills to live in this digital era, but rather than making them mandatory, isn’t it better to take into account the particular strengths of each student?