Education Committee Backs Greater Access to STEM in Schools

The Committee for Education brought forward a plenary motion today calling on the Education Minister to support the full implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects on the Northern Ireland curriculum.

Speaking after today’s plenary motion, Committee Chairperson Michelle McIlveen MLA said: “The Committee has been keen for some time to support and promote better access to STEM subjects for our children and young people. Today’s Motion is a further opportunity for us to underline the importance of harnessing and nurturing STEM excellence at an early age to meet the expanding needs of our developing digital economy.

“While much progress has been made in recent years in relation to encouraging young people to study STEM based subjects, it would appear that there is still a preconception that these subjects are difficult and offer limited and specific career options. Providing STEM based learning including perhaps, computer coding as a core element at primary level will, we believe, foster confidence and inspire more of our children to work towards STEM centred careers in the future.”

Ms McIlveen concluded: “It is crucial that we continue to work closely with the Minister, the Department for Education and local STEM based industries to inform, support and develop learning initiatives across all schools and to ensure that STEM subjects become a staple component of the Northern Ireland curriculum.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Further information on the Committee motion as well as the reports from the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI), the Confederation of British Industry NI (CBI), Momentum NI and Engineering UK can be accessed here

Education Committee Membership:

Chairperson: Michelle McIlveen MLA
Deputy Chairperson: Danny Kinahan MLA
Jonathan Craig MLA
Chris Hazzard MLA
Trevor Lunn MLA
Nelson McCausland MLA
Maeve McLaughlin MLA
Robin Newton MLA
Sandra Overend MLA
Sean Rogers MLA
Pat Sheehan MLA