Relevance: GS-3: Science and technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Key phrases: STEM, STEAM, Startups and Unicorn, 4A- 'Accessibility, Affordability, Availability, Adaptativility', National Science Foundation

What is STEM?

• STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. At its core, STEM is a teaching philosophy that integrates all four disciplines together into a single, cross-disciplinary program.
• It is a advanced approach that tries to create synergy with the combines efforts of all disciplines.

Why is there a need to democratise STEM learnings in India?

1. STEM is the soul of 'era of Startups and Unicorn' :
   • India contributes 31.7 per cent of the total STEM graduates in the world, and has one of the world’s largest STEM job markets.
   • The country is also the third largest unicorn hub and is steadily scaling the Global Innovation Index.
   • These gratifying numbers of Startups are a testament to the growing prowess that India has in the scientific community, creating a solid position for itself in STEM globally.
2. New Paradigm change in Indians from 'Goods Consumer to Ideas Innovator' :
   • Innovation in the field of education goes through a radical change with more Indians becoming innovators rather than consumers.
   • There are massive opportunities created by STEM education in the K-12 segment.
   • Today, the number of STEM jobs are outstripping the number of STEM graduates in the country with 2020 witnessing a 44 per cent increase in STEM job postings.
3. 4A- 'Accessibility, Affordability, Availability, Adaptability are keys to STEM success:
   1. According to the National Science Foundation, it is estimated that 80 per cent of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills, and India’s young workforce must be adept for this eventuality.
   2. However, the major issue is accessibility and availability is limited to a few.
   3. The physical inequities in education often outweigh the digital ones, allowing a small number of people access to quality STEM education.
   4. Solution lies in leveraging technology and tech-driven learning that India can take significant strides in democratising these critical STEM skills.

What are the issues hampering the growth of the STEM sector in India?

1. Rural-Urban Divide:
   • There is enough and more evidence to suggest that students equipped with strong STEM skills have a wider range of opportunities, resources and equipment for STEM learning are expensive, and difficult to source, especially in rural areas.
   • As a result, there is a scarcity of equipment in the laboratory and all the students need to form groups to use these equipment.
   • This takes away from the joys of personalised learning and deters students from actively participating in these classes.
2. Phenomenon of Rote Learning and Culture of More Marks:
   • Fear-driven, exam-focussed learning often discourages students, and limits their curiosity and scientific potential, focussing only on the academic syllabus.
3. Solution lies in PPP model and Digitalisation:
   • The biggest step needed toward democratising STEM would be the combined effort of all stakeholders — public and private — in the smooth transition to digital learning, where each and every student will be able to enjoy the experience of personalised learning in a virtual setting.
   • Students will have the freedom to experiment with various concepts and ideas and all this will only be an internet connection away.
4. Post Covid a good blend of Digital and Physical learnings are vital:
   • As the world enters a new phase of hybrid working and learning, the blending of physical and digital learning will be more critical than ever.
   • By leveraging technologies such as computer vision and AI, India can able to develop learning systems that offer students a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning formats, experiences and true ‘phygital’ education.
   • Digital applications in STEM education are unlimited and have the ability to improve learning outcomes.
5. Virtual learnings could revolutionise the STEM education system in India and create experiences that are critically important for sparking interest in science education, especially for students in under-resourced, underserved areas.
6. Hands-on learning allows students to see and understand what is happening in front of them and enables them to comprehend critical science concepts and make sense of the world by drawing on their personal experiences and own funds of knowledge.

Way Forward:

• Technology is an impending force that continues to revolutionise the workforce of the future, and STEM education and skilling is a crucial cog in this wheel, furthering the radical advancement in new knowledge discoveries.
• As India makes significant strides in science and technology globally, a holistic and multidisciplinary approach is critical in STEM education. The true democratisation of STEM education will not only empower learners to shape the workforce of tomorrow but also lead to unseen advancements in India’s STEM education sector.

Source: The Hindu BL

Mains Question

Q. Discuss how the developed STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) sector can be the panacea for addressing the triple whammy of 'Disguised unemployment, Middle income trap and Phenomenon of Dwarfism' in Indian Economy. (15 marks).