Science and mathematics education

Abstract

Against the current backdrop of dwindling numbers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and the opposite trend in the increasing demand for STEM related jobs in many countries, it was prescient that Lee Kuan Yew had this view as early as 1966 that “it [was] absolutely vital for us to preserve that pre-eminence in modern science and technology” to ensure that Singapore stayed ahead and afloat. This chapter describes how, side by side with English as a working language, the hard sciences and mathematics were positioned as necessary foundations for a productive nation. He believed also that education should “[impart] not only … knowledge, but more important, … the spirit of curiosity and inquiry [which] makes for innovation and enables science-based industries to grow”. The generally successful implementation of this thrust is evidenced by the skilled manufacturing and knowledge-based workforce and is somewhat signalled in this chapter by Singapore’s impressive performance at internationally benchmarked science and mathematics surveys and competitions.