21/5/2008
“Wilson welcomes increase in uptake of STEM subjects at degree level”
Sammy Wilson MP MLA has welcomed the news that there has been an increase in the number of students taking up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects at universities in Northern Ireland, but has warned that further increases are necessary to keep up with the number of jobs that are available.
Mr Wilson said:
“It is good to see an increase in the number of students taking up these subjects however that increase is hardly keeping pace with demand for students with those skills and much more needs to be done to encourage youngsters to take up these subjects.
As Chair of the Education Committee I have had recently had discussions with representatives from industry and education, investigating what might be done to increase the uptake of these subjects.
Primarily, we need to encourage parents to go and see what engineering jobs are actually like so that they can talk to their children about the opportunities available but equally important is the need to get firms into schools so that they can speak to children directly about the jobs that are available.
Schools can actively help by ensuring that careers teachers are better informed about these subjects so that they can properly advised and direct young people towards them.
Another strategy that should be adopted is a mentoring programme, so that they can be helped work towards the goal of a job with these subjects, as well as going into schools from primary level upwards, showing these young folk the relevance of maths, physics, technology and engineering.
There are jobs available for our young people in this area, and there is a need for those in education and industry to encourage young people to take up the subjects which allow them to have promising career prospects.”
ENDS
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