Scarce STEM skills need to be addressed
The clarion call for the government and organisations to contribute to scarce skills in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sector has been growing more strident. The need is real, both to fill the skills gap and for much-needed job creation, but more must be done to meet this need.
Gaps in learning and other challenges can be identified throughout the education spectrum. Our education system is ultimately delivering predominantly non-stem-related matric results. A quick review of the 2021 matric results shows that of the 897 163 pupils who wrote the Nationnal Senior Certificate, only about 45000 achieved pass marks over 50%. Of the pupils who wrote physical science, only about 21000 achieved over 50%.
That’s a low base of pupils with STEM gateway subjects, which means most matriculants finish school with no opportunity to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology fields.