MAKING GIRLS PICK STEM

Aside from introducing the career possibilities to young girls, those behind #STEMpower Our Girls say the parents also play a key role in their children’s career choices and should be included in the intervention program

MAKING girls aware of other career options can encourage them to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).

#STEMpower Our Girls, a campaign urging female students to take up Stem, has completed its pilot run with 120 participants from Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro.

“Most of the students think that when they choose Stem, they’ll either be a nurse or a doctor. They were not exposed to other careers. But after our intervention, they had more ideas on what they could do and they’ve also increased the things they can do related to Stem,” Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) executive director Love Basillote said.

Aside from being nurses and doctors, Stem courses could also pave the way for one to become an engineer, scientist, or a data analyst, among others.

Out of 2.4 million senior high school students nationwide, 31 percent chose Stem courses.

There are 40 sixth-grade 11-year-old girls in Cebu under the program, and 27 expressed interest to pursue or enroll in Stem-related courses.

“The pilot phase increased interest and expanded appreciation in Stem, not just for students, but their parents as well, as we helped them imagine what else their girls ‘could be’ during the career talks. The challenge now is sustaining that interest as they enter high school,” she said.

Basillote stressed the role of parents and teachers in a young girl’s growing years is critical, as they push on with their studies and future profession.

“Even though our kids nowadays are self-aware, parents are still traditional in a way that they still have a big say in the choice of careers of our kids. It is very important to make sure that not only the girls are aware of these opportunities, but also their parents,” Basillote said.

One of the challenges is also the cost of Stem courses being offered in premier schools and universities.

“When it comes to education, cost is definitely a factor and in college, Stem courses are usually more expensive than humanities courses because of lab fees and others. As parents, to a certain extent, you spend a bit more, but the return on investment for Stem courses is higher compared to non-Stem courses,” she said.

The campaign hopes to secure corporate funding to move to the next phase. /