Not enough students pursuing science subjects at university is becoming a critical issue in most societies. This problem is mostly caused by students’ lack of motivation and gender stereotypes in STEM, and it may obstruct the enhancement of technology and affect a country’s position in global arenas.
The main reason why students do not tend to choose science subjects is that they lack enthusiasm for those subjects, as they find STEM challenging. Most students are frustrated by fields that require math knowledge and the ability of problem solving or critical thinking. Undergraduates who wish to get higher marks and GPA over 3.5 pick humanitarian courses rather than science ones, in order to not risk their academic success. Another obstacle is gender inequality in most fields, as most families do not let their daughters specialize in fields that they want, especially in STEM. Traditional values and the role of females in some societies affect women’s career paths. For instance, in Azerbaijan, most girls opt for a career in education even if they get high scores in the college entrance exam as they face social pressures and family influence.
This problem has several effects on the development of various fields in many countries. The lack of science workers can lead to unfilled gaps in work areas, which prevents technology from upgrading, and this shortage can damage the overall economy. Moreover, science is international in nature, since various nations collaborate on solving crucial problems, such as global warming and pandemics. Lacking scientists and not being able to participate in international research and projects can have a disadvantageous impact on that nation’s global presence, while the countries that come up with solutions to universal issues gain dominance. For example, Germany and Russia were one of the several countries that released vaccines for COVID-19, which improved their reputation on a global scale.
In conclusion, the major reasons why students do not pick science subjects are their disinterest and gender expectations, and the outcome leads to lack of improvement in technology and country’s reputation.