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Elina
17 August, 2024
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It is rightly said that the future lies in the hands of the younger generation. To secure this future, it is crucial to train and groom youths to fulfil the changing demands of society and rise through these waves of technology. This ongoing innovation demands a strong foundation in STEM Education which moves beyond the memorisation of concepts or scientific theories. STEM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics equips you with critical thinking, collaborative skills and problem-solving abilities.
STEM learning means students are not just passive learners but active participants in performing exciting science experiments or building robots. From creativity and problem-solving to conceptual knowledge, STEM education trains you in and out for the technologically driven world. But has it been implemented in India, and what are the challenges?
In this blog, we have discussed a few success stories of some organisations promoting STEM education programmes in underprivileged communities in India.
STEM education is a teaching approach that combines subjects related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM education aims to encourage problem-solving and discussion among learners and develop practical skills. The STEM abbreviation was announced in the US in 2001 by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The curriculum is a blend of lab sessions and group projects targeting the practical implementation of the theory. Its popularity has grown from college level to school education due to its innovative teaching methodology. With STEM education, you develop the following skill set:
Problem-solving and critical analysis
Creativity and innovation
Digital literacy
Research skills
Higher productivity
Decision making
Management aptitude
Communication and presentation
Teamwork and leadership qualities
STEM is not the teaching of one subject; it is the blend of all four subjects through an interdisciplinary curriculum. This will help you deal with real-world problems and apply what you have learned. But why is it important? Let’s see some of the benefits of STEM education:
Students who are exposed to STEM education at an early age learn to take up challenges and develop strategies to handle them quickly.
It provides a healthy environment and encourages students to try new things.
STEM education is best known for its teamwork activities, which train you to work in diverse teams and develop leadership qualities as well.
It enhances critical thinking, which pushes students to remain curious and innovative.
You learn different ways to solve a problem and look at the bigger picture.
It offers transformative skill development benefits.
STEM programmes are accepted globally, making you eligible for global opportunities.
It gives an edge over other students from a traditional education setup.
It instils the aptitude of a creator in students.
Read More: STEM Programme From IU Germany: A Detailed Overview
The Indian education system has changed in various aspects in the past years. The system has managed to keep up the pace with innovative changes like online education. From academicians to policymakers, they have understood and implemented the STEM education approach in the Indian education system. The question is, at what level is STEM education adopted at different levels in India? While urban India has seen immense growth and popularity for STEM education, there are organisations that work tirelessly to implement STEM education in underprivileged communities.
India STEM Foundation (ISF): ISF is a non-profit organisation which aims to provide access to STEM education to all. Since its inception in 2006, the ISF has launched various programmes like Robo Siksha Kendra, Gyanoday, Sanrachna and Anusikshan. So far, the organisation has successfully engaged more than 500k students and teachers, providing six million hours of STEM education. The India STEM Foundation has a tinkering lab with the latest technologies to provide students with hands-on learning experience and core concepts for 6-12 grade students. Another popular programme by ISF is Gyanoday, which is a teacher-led education programme for 9th to 12th-grade students to prepare for entrance exams in STEM courses.
Infosys and eVidyaloka Foundation: Infosys, in collaboration with eVidyaloka Trust, is working to spread STEM education to underprivileged communities in India. This association offers access to online learning opportunities in rural areas. This programme has a systematic approach for grade 5 to 10 students of government schools in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Infosys Foundation extended INR 5 crore towards this programme in 100 rural government schools. For this, corporate employees, educated homemakers, retired professionals and postgraduate students volunteer to teach through Infosys Springboard, their flagship digital learning platform.
Aavishkaar: Established in 2014, Aavishkaar is a rural Himachal Pradesh educational organisation. It aims to make science and maths education accessible in the remote communities in the school. So far, Aavishkaar has worked in collaboration with the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam. In addition to this, the organisation has built partnerships with non-governmental like TFI, KarmMarg, Educate Girl, and customised STEM teacher professional development camps.
Agasthya International Foundation: It is a non-profit organisation running the world’s largest experiential learning programme. It has science labs and creativity centres across different regions of rural India. It has programmes like Science Centres, Innovation Hubs, Mobile Science Labs, Labs on Bikes, Dhwani, etc., to take hands-on learning to children’s doorsteps. Agastya has also started digital programmes like wE-Learn, which provide learning resources to students.
The National Education Policy 2020 has laid stress on the implementation of STEM training in India. Its implementation in the urban areas in India has been smooth but, the vast rural population poses a challenge. According to the report by the Deccan Herald, a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) which includes devices, software, access to e-platforms, connectivity and data centres is required, especially in rural regions.
Due to the lack of DPI, schools in underprivileged communities remain far from the modern learning and benefits of STEM education programmes. In fact, the teachers in the rural regions are also not trained enough to teach STEM subjects. To overcome this, it is crucial to enhance internet connectivity in rural regions and promote the usage of digital learning platforms. Apart from this, providing technical books in regional languages can significantly improve access to STEM education programmes in underprivileged communities.
While the country is committed to implementing STEM education at every level, turning that into reality is a huge set of challenges. In developed countries, the challenges are not much, in India, schools often struggle to implement STEM education. Let’s explore some of the challenges STEM education faces in India:
Beating the Misconception: A common misconception among educators in India is that the STEM education pattern will deviate students from their regular studies. However, this is not true; STEM education and regular academic curricula can go hand-in-hand.
Gaps in the Current System: Generally, STEM education starts in middle school, but according to academicians, it should start in elementary school.
Lack of Access to All: Apart from the gender gap in STEM courses, underprivileged communities in India lack access to quality STEM education.
Limited Teacher Training: To ensure the effective implementation of STEM education, the teachers should be provided with suitable training.
Fewer Resources and Infrastructure: Many schools in underprivileged communities lack proper lab facilities, qualified teachers, and modern equipment required for experiential learning.
The need and importance of STEM education in India cannot be overstated. The increased usage of advanced gadgets highlights the fact that our new generation is/will have to interact with technology. Therefore, preparing them from an early stage with STEM education will benefit them and our society as a whole. Moreover, It is the responsibility of teachers and parents to spread awareness about STEM education in India.
STEM education programmes play a crucial role in training students to achieve success in engineering, computing, biotech, computer science and related fields. These sectors are directly and indirectly linked to the strengthening of the economy.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
STEM education is a learning approach which integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
