STEM Subjects central to economy and jobs
An increased interest and uptake in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects will help catapult the country’s economy to greater heights.
Stakeholders have been encouraged to instil confidence in these subjects among learners. The Covid19 pandemic has shown the need to focus on key industries such as health and technology, with innovation being at the forefront of nation’s transformation, amid the fourth industrial revolution.
Countries are being pushed to come up with innovative ways of growing economies, and to utilise science and technology as a means to finding permanent solutions to challenges in the modern world.
However, to create competent graduates and subsequently a good workforce in these fields, more learners need to be fully equipped with resources and instilled with the confidence to know that they can reach their full potential, director of Academic programmes at Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Haniso Motlhabane told a media briefing.
Motlhabane said the only way for Botswana to grow and find solutions to different challenges facing the country was to invest in the STEM fields and the first step was to cultivate children’s confidence in these subjects, as they are traditionally widely believed to be difficult fields.
“Encouragement of STEM subjects begin from the family environment, where children should be motivated to overcome their limitations,” he said.
Africa stands at a good advantage to participate in the technological changes that are taking place in the world right now. 4
Katlego Motsime, who has developed interest in STEM subjects from primary and is now in the engineering field, said youth just need to be channelled in the right direction in this technological era, and to prepare them for the 4IR by giving them access to critical resources that would help them reach their potential.
“Young people should be taught that STEM subjects are not necessarily for only the brainy kids or the geeks, but anyone with a passion and interest. “There is a need to overhaul the education system and introduce subjects such as coding and robotics from a young age, possibly primary level.
“Stakeholders such as BIUST and Botswana Innovation Hub are doing their part. I like how there are also so many initiatives to get more girls in the STEM fields. “We need to roll out more STEM initiatives across the country, even to rural areas. As someone who studied engineering, I would say the prospects are not entirely about earning a good salary, but also exposing oneself to new experiences and making a contribution to society through finding innovative solutions to every day challenges”, he said.
The first step, he added, is to formulate and implement education policy that makes prioritises STEM and creates stronger support networks for learners in these fields.