The statistics are pretty clear: There are problems with STEM education in the United States. There isn’t as much emphasis on teaching science, technology, engineering or mathematics to US students as there is in other countries. And the resources are available here.
One example? Parents in Singapore are sending their children to the United States for a STEM-based education. Coding and design camps teach kids as young as 6 how to use programs such as Scratch and Java. The Malay Mail describes these week-long programs as helping kids “develop the in-demand skills needed to compete at top companies like Razer, Google, Facebook and Microsoft.” In fact, one firm in Silicon Valley noticed how many parents were flying their children to the US from Singapore, and expanded its operations to include a branch in Singapore specifically to meet those demands.
“Singapore is a country that is interested in education, in technology. It is a place that prioritizes education,” says Kristopher Kasper, the firm’s director of international operations.
At a time where the United States has to consider its place in the global market, especially with regards to tech jobs and a changing workforce, it’s important to ask: What are the barriers that American teachers and students face with regards to STEM education? Why are our STEM programs so desirable by foreign markets but not our own? Does the US have what it takes to attract students who will develop into a top-tier workforce?
