ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday said that Pakistan needs to make utmost efforts to join the global race of technology, which would also guarantee the future national economic development.
The president, while addressing the launching ceremony of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) project, said children’s motivation towards science education would create actual wealth for the country, which would later support the industry and IT sector too.
Under the umbrella of ministry of science and technology, the Pakistan Science Foundation is executing the STEM project’s first phase under PSDP programme. The project is initially being launched in 50 schools across Pakistan, which were selected based on their excellent academic results during the last three years.
Calling STEM education “very dear” to him, the president referred to a survey by Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), which showed that the interest of Pakistani children towards STEM is comparatively low in the region.
Quoting a study by University of Sargodha, the president said parents, science festivals and encouragement by teachers played key role to motivate children towards STEM education.
He said China produces around 4.7 million STEM graduates annually while Pakistan is far behind in the list of countries producing those graduates.
Calling the launching of STEM as a timely step, the president called for adopting the required factors for promotion of STEM education, which provides the basis for development in organised societies.
He also hinted at visiting the STEM schools sometime and added that it is inevitable to uplift the people to compete the world.
Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz said the programme would be spread throughout the country. The selected schools will become hubs of STEM education and serve as model schools for all schools of adjoining areas.
He said the programme also includes training of teachers and preparation of master trainers. Moreover, a monitoring mechanism will also be in place to examine the productivity of the programme.
Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said the education ministry has launched a pilot programme in 35 educational institutes of Islamabad, which would also benefit the Pakistan Science Foundation in STEM initiative.
He said STEM is also part of uniform education curriculum, adding that training of teachers is of high importance to achieve the desired results.
Pakistan Science Foundation Chairman Dr Shahid Baig also addressed the event, attended by provincial ministers, diplomats and principals of the STEM designated schools.
