By: Damian C. Reynolds
STEM education–Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math– is on the decline according to the National Math and Science Initiative. That’s why hundreds of teachers showed up for a STEM certification conference at the Athens Classic Center on Tuesday morning. Here are a few statistics about STEM on the decline:
- 38 percent of college students who begin with a STEM major do not graduate with one.
- 26 industrialized nations performed better than U.S. students in math in 2012.
- 63 percent of all jobs in the U.S. are projected to require post-secondary education by 2018.
For more statistics about STEM education statistics, click here.
Meanwhile, Suzanne Williams, a seventh grade life science teacher from Lilburn Middle School in Gwinnett County, attended the conference because her school is in the process of getting STEM certified. Georgia schools are allowed to have STEM courses, but must first be approved by the Georgia Department of Education. Williams explains why she believes STEM courses are important.
