‘STEM Education’, that involves Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, is a rather new term in the Indian education sector. STEM education creates critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next generation innovators.

It is predicted that 80 per cent of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills. Despite having the best of the brains in India, the exam-focused education model had limitations related to innovation, problem solving and creativity.

There has already been a delay in incorporating STEM studies in schools. The cause can be the many hurdles that have been on the way. One of the biggest challenge involved in implementing STEM education is to design infrastructure, curriculum and to provide kids the best guidance and support. Another challenge can be funding, schools need money for construction of Makerspaces, DIY (Do it Yourself Tools), best computers etc, which are some of the basic aspects of the STEM education.

Twenty first century learning skills and design based learning to spur curiosity, innovation and thirst for knowledge towards STEM in kids can be encouraged with an early exposure to hands-on learning and practical knowledge in a more engaging and fun to learn environment. 

Once a kid develops a passion for STEM fields, it smoothens the decision making process to choose a right field to pursue ones career. It will help to create great thinkers, innovators, engineers and scientists that our society and industry needs.

According to a report by the website STEMconnector.org, by 2018, projections estimate the need for 8.65 million workers in STEM-related jobs. The manufacturing sector faces an alarmingly large shortage of employees with the necessary skills — nearly 600,000. The field of cloud computing alone will have created 1.7 million jobs between 2011 and 2015, according to the report. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2018, the bulk of STEM careers will be:

• Computing – 71 percent
• Traditional Engineering – 16 percent
• Physical sciences – 7 percent
• Life sciences – 4 percent
• Mathematics – 2 percent

India must have STEM for ALL missions. Mini Science Centre mush be established in the schools. We need to first focus on capacity building of teachers and spread awareness among parents towards application of science and technology in the modern education regime. Teachers well-equipped to impart STEM play an important role in guiding children. As the most populous with supreme diversity in talent and culture, we need a collective effort from government and others working on education to avail the opportunity and benefits of STEM education.

IBM Teachers TryScience (TTS) is an international platform in association with New York Hall of Science, Teach Engineering and Generation of Science Standards. It provides STEM teachers the opportunity to participate in communities, access and put up quality STEM resources and provides strategies and tutorials for teaching STEM based lessons. 

In India, TTS is working closely with Department of Science and Technology (DST), National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT) and Niti Aayog.

Teachers TryScience in India has reached out to nearly 30,000 educators and science teachers, 11,03,643 students impacting 1,44,000 classrooms. STEM pedagogy of design based learning and Teachers TryScience resources has reached out to across 9 states and in 5 local languages (Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati and Marathi) in India with 5 implementing partners and science based NGOs.

India is at a crucial stage when the  government is promoting initiatives such as Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Atal Innovation Mission-Tinkering Labs to encourage manufacturing, technology usage and skill development in the country. STEM is turning out to be an essential and integral component of our education.