What is STEM?
For those wondering what STEM is, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These four focus areas have a strong emphasis on problem-solving and critical thinking. Furthermore, these areas are highly influential on up-and-coming careers.
The STEM approach promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and digital literacy skills. Most of these skills are also key objectives of the CBSE curricula. Teaching these skills to students at a young age helps them deduct and reason problems beyond their levels as they progress. These skills help build a foundation for students going forward in their academic journeys.
Why is STEM Important in India?
Studies show a disparity of knowledge in these fields – science, technology, engineering, and math- in India. Roughly 13.2 million children in rural India have extremely low access to good quality education. As a result of this reality, there is also a lack of quality teachers in both fields of maths and science. If there are teachers available in these regions, the norm is that there’s one teacher for grades 1 to 5. The teachers don’t have the support they need, and they’re unable to do deep work of preparing these students at primary ages meaning their foundations are all but basic.
STEM and Bloom India
Bloom India is our non-profit branch, offering solutions to India’s educational poverty. Bloom India’s initiative plans to partner with schools and create STEM centres in these schools. Equipping these STEM centres with technology, internet, and proper electricity. Each centre will appoint a coordinator who organises classes, supports students, and holds them accountable for completing their assignments and experiments in the tech labs.
Throughout these last months, Bloom India has had the privilege of opening its first centre in Bangalore. Students from grades 1 to 6 will attend online classes twice a week, supported by our teachers at ConnectEd. These students will be able to gain more than basic knowledge in all subjects; Science, Technology, Maths, and English.
We hope this support will help close the digital literacy gap around India. We also expect that students will be better prepared for future courses in these areas of study, which will ultimately give them advantages as they prepare for boards later in their academic careers.
