The supply of professionals
The supply of professionals
This chapter considers the reported shortages of scientists and school teachers in the United Kingdom. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, students, and teachers occupy a privileged position in UK government education policy because of their economic importance, but are in short supply and/or reducing in proportion to the number of available opportunities. As with scientists, there appears to be a constant demand for more teachers in the United Kingdom and other developed countries. This chapter shows that whereas UK public spending has declined in real terms since the economic downturn of 2008 onwards, one area where policy-makers have claimed that spending has been sustained and even increased is encouraging the supply of new STEM graduates. The UK government proposals to develop the nation's scientific skills base largely lie in increasing the supply of young people into the STEM professions. Similarly, a whole range of policy initiatives have been proposed and tried to increase the supply of teachers. This chapter shows, however, the issue of shortages has yet to be effectively addressed.
Keywords: STEM subjects, scientists, school teachers, UK education policy, STEM graduates, teachers, teacher shortages
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