United States President Barack Obama's goal of having 100,000 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers in place in the American education system by 2021 is on its way, according to the US government. The STEM goal is an effort to prepare students to be competitive.
In his State of the Union Address back in 2011, Obama had issued a call to action to put 100,000 new STEM teachers in American classrooms by 2021. According to the White House, the vision was to equip a new generation of problem-solvers with the STEM skills that are necessary to uplift the economy, lead America and solve the most pressing challenges of the world.
Obama to highlight private funding for STEM teacher training https://t.co/4y0areGfBi pic.twitter.com/7yD7YBR1Rc
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 3, 2016
More Than 30,000 Teachers Now Trained in STEM
Heeding Obama's call, a network called 100Kin10 set out to meet the 100,000 STEM teacher goal by 2021. The White House said that 100Kin10 is made up of 280 organizations, such as government agencies, school districts, universities, foundations, nonprofit organizations, corporations and museums.
The Washington Examiner reported that some of the organizations belonging to 100Kin10 are the Clinton Global Initiative, Teach for America, the American Federation of Teachers. The Girl Scouts and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are also part of the network.
100Kin10's co-founder and executive director Talia Milgrom-Elcott said via Washington Examiner that the 100,000 goal "sounded impossible" five years ago. However, they have reached a "milestone" due to the cooperation of various organizations.
STEM Teacher Retention A Problem
It is said that there is a problem of retention among teachers who teach STEM. "Science teachers have many reasons to leave, namely low salaries, too much testing, lack of resources, and lack of support from administrators," National Science Teachers Association's executive director, David Evans said in an e-mail to The Christian Science Monitor.
Chair of the International STEM Education Association Chair of the International STEM Education Association Michael Daugherty added via a phone interview with The Christian Science Monitor that teachers who do not further their education become irrelevant and leave. "The research shows that the more teachers are engaged professionally the more likely they are to stay in the field," said Daugherty.
How do you think President's Obama's goal will impact education in America? Write your comments below.
