The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has urged the
Government to adopt a more purposeful strategy to improve
diversity and inclusion in STEM.
Today, the Committee publishes the Government’s response to its
recent report which called for action to
address underrepresentation of women and other groups in
STEM.
In its response the Government said it is preparing a
cross-Government action plan, led by the Department for
Education, to “drive wider participation in
STEM” and see “a more diverse range of people
enter the science and technology workforce by 2030”.
The Chair of the Committee, MP, has said that “without any
specific commitments or timings this amounts to a plan to have a
plan.”
The Committee asked the Government to set out a plan to
deliver the Prime Minister’s maths to 18 ambition and to
introduce a similar Core Science option to make it easier for
students specialising in humanities to continue to learn more
science after the age of 16.
The Government said a plan for the maths ambition will
come “later this year” – the aim having first been announced in
January this year. It also said there are “no plans” to set
a similar target for science.
The Government did not fully engage with the
Committee’s conclusion that the current package to attract maths
and STEM teachers is not “anywhere near sufficient” to address
the crisis in recruitment for physics and computer science
teachers.
Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Rt
Hon MP, said:
“The lack of diversity at all levels in science, technology,
engineering and maths is a well recognised and longstanding
problem. Our report called for urgent measures to reverse the
comparative lack of students from underrepresented backgrounds to
pursue STEM.
“It is disappointing the Government has not taken forward our
recommendations, including to update the national curriculum with
more diverse examples of notable scientists.
“The Government has said it is preparing a cross-Government
action plan, but without any timings or commitments this amounts
to a plan to have a plan. At some point action and
representation at ministerial level will be needed.
“Without a clear strategy to increase diversity and inclusion in
STEM it will be harder for the Government to achieve
its ambition for science, innovation and technology to power
the economy.
“We remain concerned and will continue to press the Government
for action in this area.”
ENDS
Further Information:
- The Government’s response to the Committee’s report is
attached as a PDF.
- The Committee’s report
was published in March 2023 and can be found on our website.
