The lack of guidance and academic difficulty are two key factors in the fall of enrolments in technical careers, according to the conclusions of the study "The challenge in STEM vocations", presented on Tuesday 24 September in Madrid and attended by Proa Comunicación. The report, carried out by the DigitalES Association and in which Altran has participated, analyses the reasons for this drop, trying to offer solutions as to why Spanish students discard subjects linked to technological development.
Some of the data from the study are quite worrying and demand, as was made clear during the presentation ceremony, a rapid response from all the agents involved. Thus, 30% of secondary school pupils have not taken any technology subject, as this is always presented as optional and conditional on the offer of each centre.
59% of the school heads surveyed in the report consider that teachers at their schools do not receive the necessary training to guide students in their choice of pathway. In this respect, it should also be noted that only 3% of the teachers who took part in the study specialise in mathematics, technology or ICT. It was precisely this percentage that the acting Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Isabel Celaá, referred to during her speech at the event. She said that "a comprehensive training plan" is needed for teachers to provide them with the appropriate knowledge in STEM subjects.
Only 25% of girl engineers
On the other hand, the report concludes that only 25% of girls chose to study engineering in 2018, being the majority group at university, representing 55% of the student body. The results of the study show that there is also a greater drop in enrolments of girls than boys in these studies.
The data show that girls show lower self-confidence than boys, recognising that they have more difficulties than boys in understanding mathematics and solving problems (78% vs. 67%).
Among the recommendations included in the DigitalES Association report are the promotion of a more social vision of technical careers, increasing the visibility of women in these subjects and the training of teachers in these fields to better guide students in making academic decisions.
Download the report here