Extra support for Stem subjects in technical and professional education
Secondary schools are being encouraged to work more closely with industry and with each other, to prepare students for the labour market with skills that are in high demand
Funding and collaboration
General education (ASO) streams currently attract more students for Stem studies, meaning the TSO and BSO streams have lost a number of students who would do well in their stream.
In recent years, Stem studies in ASO have received a real boost. “More than half of the students there follow a Stem course,” Crevits told public broadcaster VRT.
She said, however, that there is room for improvement in TSO and BSO, because there is currently a high demand for youngsters with a Stem profile in the labour market. She also emphasised that many technical studies offer the chance to go on to higher education.
To boost Stem education in TSO and BSO, schools will be encouraged to collaborate more intensively with companies. This will help teachers keep up to date with developments in the energy sector, for example, making it easier for them to inspire their students in related studies.
There are already collaboration projects between schools and companies, with positive results. Next school year, 20 new projects are beginning, to which Crevits has allocated €125,000.
She is also investing €100,000 in a primary school project called Learning Networks. This brings teachers from different schools together, to learn from each other about how to get pupils interested in Stem subjects.
Photo courtesy Stad Gent
