Report Says Canada Needs More Students Studying Sciences
Canada could be left behind in the innovation economy, if our youth don’t study sciences in college and university.
This is according to a new report from Amgen Canada and Let’s Talk Science called Spotlight on Science Learning. Their findings reveal that Canadian students do well in national and international tests, but then there is a huge drop-off in the study of science and math courses as soon as they’re no longer prerequisite.
This trend is causing students to leave math and science behind after grade 10, and leaves Canada’s math and science lecture halls dangerously depleted.
“Some degree of learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) will be essential for many jobs that will be in great demand in the coming years,” said Karen Burke, Ph.D., director, regulatory affairs, Amgen Canada and member of the expert panel that helped analyze the report’s data.
“As other nations put greater focus on these areas of learning, Canada cannot afford to be left behind.”
The report states that more needs to be done to attract and retain students in science programs from high school right through to college and university, if Canada is going to compete on the international stage.
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