Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Strand

Introduction to STEM

          We are now in a K-12 Curriculum where Senior High School is being implemented. In which in this level, we should take any if these tracks; Academic Track, Technical-Vocational -Livelihood Track Strand, Sports Track Strand, and Arts and Design Track Strand, wherein in the Academic Track, there are four (4) different strands; the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), and General Academics (GAS).

          I have a question to a variety of students who choose, didn't choose, and will choose the STEM Strand. To all of the students who choose other track and strand than STEM, "Why you didn't choose STEM?". To the students who are now STEM students, "What motivates you to choose STEM?". To the STEM students that are now in their College life, "How did you surpass STEM?". To the students that are now incoming Grade 11, "Why don't you try STEM?"

What is STEM?

      Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is one of the strands in the Academic Track of the new curriculum in our country, the Philippines that should be taken by the Grade 10 or “Junior” Students upon enrolment in the Senior High School (SHS).

        It is an educational program developed and designed to prepare Senior High School (SHS) students for college and graduate study in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This strand, the STEM aims to foster inquiring minds, logical reasoning, and collaboration skills.

           It also aims to inculcate in students various theories and concepts in Science and Mathematics. The focus of this is to provide practical learning experiences in order for students to understand the concepts better through application, controlled experiments, research and practice. This will also help to equip the students with knowledge and skills necessary in the pursuit of degree programs in engineering, architecture, medical / health sciences, and computer studies.

What will I become if I choose STEM?

          If you want to become an engineer, an architect, a pilot, a statistician, a scientist, a chemist, a biologist, an astrophysicist, a dentist, a physician, a nutritionist, a nurse, a doctor, a pharmacist, etc. then this strand will suit you.

What skills should I possess if I take STEM?

          The potential skills that you should have if you take this strand, the STEM are the following: ability to analyse, ability to work efficiently, having a good communication skills, being creative, and having a good leadership. Possessing mathematical, scientific, and technical ability is the most salient capability in this strand.

What are the subjects in STEM?

          In all of the strands, there are two kind of subjects; the specialized and core subjects. Specialized subjects are the subjects those are in the specific strand and track only. Such as in STEM, the specialized subjects in this strand are the following: Pre-Calculus, Basic Calculus, General Biology 1, General Biology 2, General Chemistry 1, General Chemistry, General Physics 1, General Physics 2, Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction, Work Immersion / Research / Career Advocacy / Culminating Activity. The core subjects, on the other hand are the ones that are implemented in all of the strands and tracks including STEM such as Oral-Communication, General Mathematics, Empowerment-Technologies (ICT), Physical Education and Health, Komunikasyon at Pananaliksik, and Personal Development.
          There are two (2) semesters in each Grade Level (Grade 11 and 12) in Senior High School, the First and Second or the last Semester. The subjects on the Second Semester are just the upgraded topics from the First Semester such as for the specialized subjects, from Pre-Calculus, it will become Basic Calculus, from General Biology 1 to General Biology 2. For the core subjects in contrast, General Mathematics will become Statistics and Probabilities, Oral-Communication to Reading and Writing Skills and many more.