More and more Lithuanian companies point out a supply and demand gap in terms of talent, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. The said gap has been at a record high in the recent years. In this day and age, the energy market needs numerous specialists that would design, install, programme, develop and implement green manufacturing projects.
This need will only grow in the future. Despite that, the amount of pupils wishing to take part in energy-related study programmes is insufficient, leaving the educational institutions with under-used capacity.
The reasons of this phenomenon might lie in our school system.
Knowledge in mathematics and physics is important Energy specialists must be knowledgeable in exact and natural sciences. In order to provide future energy experts with sufficient high-end possibilities to learn mathematics and physics, we must take the huge need for suitably trained teachers into account.
“While implementing #EnergySmartSTART programme, we’re planning to join forces with the I Choose to Teach! project. We hope to attract many motivated candidates to become great math and physics teachers as early as this year,” says Giedrė Žlibinienė, the leader of #EnergySmartSTART programme.
The lack of math and physics teachers contributes to the decreased interest in the exact sciences. Pupils do not perform during exams as well as they should, reducing the amount of people who would study exact sciences in higher education institutions even further.
Creating change through teaching
Mantas Pastolis is another participant of I Choose to Teach! programme. His decision to become a physics teacher has been influenced by a wish to tackle the challenges brought about by climate change.
“I was half way through my studies in London, when I suddenly understood that educating children might be a more efficient way to create change. After all, they are the generation that will lead our world to the future. Nevertheless, actually starting to work in a school changed my thinking once again. I then understood that technology is worthless, if we don’t teach children how to think critically and develop awareness,” M. Pastolis claims.
When asked, if it is easy to pique the children’s interest in physics, the teacher smiles – according to him, this is a difficult and an easy task at the same time. According to M. Pastolis, natural sciences are brimming with exciting and impactful experiments that create explosions, bursts of colour, sparks and wonder. Kids find this very attractive.
“While learning natural sciences, each intriguing topic provides opportunities to discover something interesting. Nevertheless, one has to be prepared. You must think everything through, try doing the experiments yourself beforehand, acquire certain instruments and, first and foremost, know how to grab their attention,” M. Pastolis explains.
I Choose to Teach! programme has helped him understand the importance of a teacher’s profession and the necessity to make every child feel valued and respected. The job of a teacher is not making sure kids graduate with perfect exam scores or competition medals in their hands. Their main task is to infuse children with excitement to create, an ability to work as a team, think critically and believe in a better future.
Discovering promising occupations
Eglė Stankūnaitė, who also takes part in I Choose to Teach! programme, has chosen the path of a physics teacher as well.
“Teaching gives meaning to my life. I can help children understand their intrinsic value to the society. So what motivates me the most is knowing that I partake in something meaningful. No challenges or stereotypes can stop you then. Being a physics teacher is so freaking cool. You can play with different experiments, help kids explore, create and try various things. This is the main task of the next generation of teachers, who, first and foremost, must inspire change,” claims E. Stankūnaitė.
According to her, learning physics requires patience and motivation, and this is where she comes in – motivating the children to never give up and showing them how interesting, important and promising engineering professions are.
“Children typically hear success stories involving medicine, politics, IT or arts. However, I want to show them that engineers and energy specialists are just as great, as they create and implement projects that are extremely important not only to Lithuania but the entire world as well,” says E. Stankūnaitė.
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