Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—STEM isn’t just about the study of these fields; rather, it’s a pathway towards the future. How prepared are we to see ourselves as smart citizens of the world in the coming years? That is a question we all must think about.
Over one-third of the population of Bangladesh is under 15; in this developing country, this tells us about the huge potential we have to thrive in the future, if they’re nurtured properly. And, in that case, we can’t look away from STEM education.
Although there is hope for a super bright future for our younger generation, there are some barriers to excellence. There is no national infrastructure, and not enough resources to facilitate the curriculum. We lack expert teachers who are qualified to teach STEM. And, the amount of female involvement is very low, creating a huge gender gap.
Many NGOs, along with their partners and the government, are putting their concentrated efforts into addressing the gaps, but there are many milestones ahead. We need more targeted programs and reforms in the education and training sectors.
More collaboration among organisations will make it possible to achieve the goal of building a better and smarter Bangladesh by including STEM education in the system.
We need a collective effort and commitment from policymakers, educators, parents, and industries to unlock the immense potential of Bangladeshi youth.