[vc_row wrap_container=”yes” text_align=”center” is_section=”yes” section_skin=”parallax” remove_margin_bottom=”yes” remove_border=”yes” el_class=”slider-divider”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”294″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Why is STEM important?” use_theme_fonts=”yes” skin=”primary” el_class=”m-t-lg m-b custom-font-size-1″][vc_column_text el_class=”line-h-16″]STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. More recently, some have amended STEM to include Arts, in recognition of its creative element and so STEAM was born.
Universally, there is a unified acknowledgement that we are facing a technical skills shortage which if unaddressed will only get worse.
According to the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, more than 40% of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) vacancies are hard to fill. This is mainly due to a shortage of applicants with the required skills and experience.
The reason for this growing skills gap is because the educational system has dramatically failed to take account of the advances in technology, and the consequent need to turn out graduates with the necessary skills relevant to the 21st century.
Generally, interest in ICT and Computing has experienced a gradual decline and is now well below the numbers necessary to fill high skilled positions in commerce and industry. The STEM initiative represents an attempt to address this skills gap by promoting these subjects, making them more interesting and relevant to today’s students. It also has highlighted the appalling waste of potential of female students who are simply avoiding these disciplines, and has developed relevant initiatives to address this, trying to close the gender gap.
At Computational Thinkers, we believe that efforts to close the skills gap should begin as soon as possible. To that end, we are introducing our CODE100Club to primary school children from the age of 8, and we aim to lower the age threshold in the future.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#fa5b46″ css=”.vc_custom_1509651374115{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]