Bangalore: Even if, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are blooming with more career opportunities, today’s teenagers are steering away from these professions. The career challenges and the hard work of the so-called STEM professions are taken away teen’s passion towards on it, in job industry. In one of the latest studies conducted by ASQ, students of age 12- 17 said medical and engineering fields will be offering most job opportunities, but 67 percent of the surveyed are not sure on their further study on these careers as they are not willing to put more energy and effort on their career.  The survey was conducted among 713 students along with the complementary survey on 327 parents with 10-17 aged children.

The survey reveals that students are more concerned about the time and money they need to spend for the respective field of studies. According to the survey 26 percent of the respondents mentioned that cost of study and difficulty to become the professionally qualified candidate are too high when it compares with other fields. 25 percent said that it involves much studying to become a doctor or engineer and these careers demand ‘hard work’ in workplace.

Though, students felt more career opportunities are there in other streams of studies, the greatest career opportunities lies in STEM professions. According to the survey, the mentioned career fields are offering greatest opportunities as Doctor - 34 percent, Engineer- 26 percent, Teacher- 19 percent, Lawyer- 17 percent, Entrepreneur- 16 percent, Sales and Marketing- 11 percent, Accountant- 11 percent etc.

25 percent of the students had said their grades in STEM subjects will not help them to track their career in those subjects. 53 percent of the surveyed parents also had the same opinion and they felt the challenges on these fields are unbearable for their children. 26 percent of the parents had also said the quality of teaching is very poor to prepare the students for future careers in STEM fields.

The study has also found a growing gender gap in education as comparing with 19 percent of boy students, 30 percent of girl students has admitted that mathematics is the most challenging subject. Also, reportedly 33 percent of girls said the teachers are not preparing them to pursue a career in STEM professions whereas only 9 percent boys have the same opinion.

Latest studies have found around 40 percent of students end up switching their field of studies from engineering and science subjects. Coming to pre-medical students 60 percent of them also have dropped their field of study to other subjects.

According to a study conducted by Ben Ost, a doctoral student at Cornell, STEM students are either ‘pulled away’ by their highest grades in other fields or ‘pushed out’ by their lower grades in STEM majors.