Flemish high-school students are increasingly choosing science subjects

Flemish high-school students are increasingly choosing science subjects
© Belga

More and more young Flemish students are choosing to study science and technology in middle and upper secondary schools, it emerges from the Flemish administration's STEM 5e barometer (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

The barometer is part of the Flemish government's STEM action plan aiming to remedy the lack of workers with a scientific background, which is one of the problems associated with the jobs market in Flanders.

During the 2017-2018 school year, 55,163 pupils were recorded as studying science and technology subjects, compared to 53,806 in 2010-11. the reference year, while the number of pupils in Flanders has fallen by 3,600. In mainstream education, 55% of pupils left school with a STEM-based diploma.

Girls are increasingly choosing a scientific or technical orientation: their number has grown by 4% in comparison to 2010-11 to represent nearly a third. And at the upper level, baccalaureate holders studying science represent some 40% of female students.

These figures show that the objectives the Flemish government has set itself to reach by 2020 are on course to be achieved, in particular for girls following a STEM orientation at the secondary level and studying for the baccalaureate.

The Brussels Times


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