The Indian Obsession with STEM

INDIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM, over the past decades, has leaned towards an obsession with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), creating an either/or mentality that undervalues the humanities, such as history, philosophy, literature, and the arts.

- Srinath Sridharan

This approach risks producing a generation that excels in technical proficiency but lacks the critical thinking and creativity required to be effective stewards of technology.

India's obsession with STEM education is evident from the staggering numbers involved in engineering and medical entrance examinations. Each year, over 1.5 million students appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) to secure one of the approximately 16,000 seats in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Similarly, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical colleges attracts over 1.8 million aspirants for around 90,000 MBBS seats. This intense competition underscores the societal and economic premium placed on STEM careers, driven by a market pay structure that offers significantly higher salaries and perceived job security in these fields.

Consequently, this focus has overshadowed the importance of humanities and social sciences, leading to a skewed educational landscape that prioritises technical proficiency over a holistic intellectual development.

This imbalance is exacerbated by a social hierarchy that places STEM and medical sciences at the apex, relegating other fields to a lower status. This outdated mindset has fueled a culture where coaching classes overshadow the holistic education schools should provide from grades 9-12. The fierce competition to secure a place in STEM or medical programmes after high school results in lakhs of students vying for a limited number of seats.