SMK: Ministry of Education and VSW strengthen STEM education in Saxony

New agreement ensures practical and comprehensive offerings

Mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology are essential keys to understanding our world. The Saxon State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (SMK) and the Saxon Business Association (VSW) therefore want to promote STEM education in Saxony’s schools even more strongly. Minister of Education Conrad Clemens and employer president Dr. Jörg Brückner signed a joint framework agreement in Löbau today (16 April).

Minister of Education Conrad Clemens: “Enthusiasm for STEM doesn’t come from memorizing formulas, but when a child programs a robot for the first time or understands how the sun’s rays generate electricity. In Saxony, we don’t want to wait until it’s time to choose a career, but rather awaken an interest in technology and science at a very early age at school. Knowledge is our most important resource. In order to get tomorrow’s skilled workers interested in STEM today, we rely on close cooperation between schools and regional companies.”

Employer President Dr. Jörg Brückner: “Our prosperity is based on work in companies. In addition to dedication, knowledge and skills are needed to create high-quality products and services. The STEM subjects play a key role in this. They are the foundation for innovation, competitiveness and securing our future. A significantly stronger STEM education is therefore not optional, but a central economic policy necessity. The economy is committed to its responsibility in the area of vocational orientation so that young people can develop their talents and companies can attract the skilled workers of tomorrow. This requires more practical relevance and close cooperation between schools and companies.”

The STEM sector is of outstanding importance in the Saxon school system. In all types of schools, these subjects make up over 30 percent of the total curriculum. The successful completion of a written final examination is a necessary prerequisite for obtaining a secondary school leaving certificate and is a unique feature in Saxony.

The aim of the agreement between SMK and VSW is to improve networking between schools and companies. The cooperation is intended to strengthen the implementation of joint projects and thus support schools in their educational work. Pupils will be able to take advantage of practical STEM offerings in the form of direct experiences and “aha” moments in their living environment that go beyond traditional STEM lessons.

The SMK and VSW have been working together since 1993 as part of SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Sachsen. The framework agreement now places a stronger focus on modern developments such as artificial intelligence, robotics and environmental awareness in STEM education. “MINT-machen” offers are to be designed in an age- and target group-specific manner and also address girls in a special way, for example. In order to reduce fear of contact, they are provided with role models and contact persons from the business world. The project receives financial support from the Beisheim Foundation and the Johann Andreas Schubert Foundation.

Background

The MINT Hub Saxony brings together politics, business and civil society. The educational projects City4Future and IT2School invite pupils to experiment and research. The special feature: External learning guides implement the projects in the school’s all-day program. Companies from Saxony provide a link to the world of work and thus contribute to career guidance. Together, the partners enable secondary schools to implement the educational projects and cooperate with a regional company. The projects are free of charge for educational institutions.

General information and information dates for companies, schools and learning guides can be found at https://www.wissensfabrik.de/minthubsachsen

_ _ _ _ _ 
Further links

👉 To the original press release

(this is a automatic translation)