The rapid evolution driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution is reshaping how people think, live, work, and learn. In this dynamic landscape, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education is a vital tool to properly equip students with the skills and adaptability needed to thrive in this new era. This method of learning focuses on integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to foster critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and innovation.
A study by the US-based Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that employment opportunities for graduates in STEM fields would be higher than the students from other disciplines in the next decade. With projections indicating an eight per cent rise in STEM employment opportunities by 2029, it is believed that investment in this sector will be highly rewarding.
Experts, therefore, are calling for increased emphasis on STEM education. They claim STEM education is crucial for the country's development and to meet the challenges of the future. They maintain that the nation would be deprived of development if the new generation lags behind in this emerging field. STEM learning method contributed to skilled human resource development in many countries. It should not be otherwise for Bangladesh.
It is recognised worldwide that the more universal STEM education is in a society, the faster will be the pace of its development. Bangladesh is striving hard to extricate itself from its least developed country status. In that case, introduction of widespread STEM education will strengthen the efforts and stimulate human resource development, socio-economic growth and establishment of a knowledge-based society.
The implementation of wide ranging STEM education, advisably at all mid-level to higher educational institutions, would open the door wide for generating skilled manpower. STEM education, however, is expensive and requires well-equipped premises, trained demonstrators, practical classes and latest journals. It cannot be solely Internet-dependent. It needs a new, entirely fresh approach. Necessary measures, therefore, need to be taken to expand facilities for STEM education and make it attractive to students. The government may have to review its priorities, its allocation of resources, and accord greater importance to enriching the country's pool of skilled manpower as an investment in the future.
That Bangladesh has a bright prospect in ICT sector has already been adequately demonstrated by the country's IT experts and computer programmers who achieved brilliant successes in different international competitions as well as software development. According to ICT division, Bangladesh is now exporting software and ICT solutions to more than 50 countries around the globe, and most of them are developed countries like USA and Japan. And the number of countries buying these Bangladesh-origin services is increasing every year.
But amidst this promising outlook, there lies a glaring disparity. A recent study entitled 'SheSTEM Business Case' reveals that although employment facilities for Bangladeshi STEM degree holders have increased due to the growth of IT sector, women's access to employment in this field is far less than desirable. It shows that even though the employment landscape for STEM graduates is expanding, women's representation in these fields remains dismally low, accounting for only 14 per cent of the workforce.
This underrepresentation of women in STEM fields attributed is to societal and workplace biases. This hinders inclusive economic development. Women in Bangladesh face multifaceted challenges in pursuing STEM careers such as entrenched gender norms, absence of female role models in this sector, and inadequate workplace support systems. As a result, their potential contributions to the country's technological advancement and economic growth are severely compromised. Empowering women in STEM isn't merely a matter of equity; it's an economic imperative, and it will unlock the full potential of the country's workforce.
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