Disadvantages as a result of deprivation, gender and rurality need to be addressed to improve learning experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), according to a new Holyrood committee report.
While there is a range of positive work being done across the country, for some young people disadvantages are being compounded because of unconscious bias, resource issues and rurality.
Those are amongst the conclusions of a report published yesterday by Holyrood’s Education and Skills Committee following an inquiry into the importance of STEM learning in early years.
The Committee is calling for measures to be put in place to increase teacher confidence across Scotland as well as improve internet connectivity in schools to help support STEM learning experiences.
Committee Convener, Clare Adamson MSP said: “We heard so much about the innovative and fantastic work being doing by leaders in our schools and communities to grow STEM skills amongst our young people.
“These are skills which will become evermore critical as we enter the fourth industrial revolution which will see massive technological changes affecting changes to work and employment in the future.
“To ensure our young people are equipped with the skills of the future, we want the Scottish Government to do more to measure the effectiveness of the strategies in place such as the STEM strategy.
“But measurements alone are not enough. We need systemic change to address continued disadvantage which exists, as identified in the Committee Report. We need inclusive economic growth, the fourth industrial revolution will provide so many opportunities for our young people and they need the skills to take up these opportunities.”
To help mark the release of the report and to highlight in particular the Committee observations on gender, 50 S1 school girls came to the Scottish Parliament to take part in a ‘hackathon’ to produce graphics and visuals based on the Committee’s report.
Led by dressCode, a charity aimed at closing the gender gap in computing science, the session formed part of their programme which aims to engage, inspire and raising awareness of opportunities in the world of tech for women.
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