STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s government has launched a new science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) strategy aimed at strengthening education in these critical fields, Minister for Education Johan Pehrson announced Tuesday.
“Efforts to reinforce Sweden’s position as a leading technology nation begin in school,” Pehrson said. “We need more people with extensive knowledge in STEM, and we need to get them interested at an early age.”
The strategy comes amid concerns over declining math performance in Swedish schools. The latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results showed a drop in the share of students excelling in mathematics. The government has set a target for at least 15% of students to perform well in PISA 2023.
To address the shortage of STEM graduates, the government aims to increase the percentage of students enrolled in science and technology programs in upper secondary schools to 25% by 2035. At the university level, Sweden plans to raise the number of full-time STEM students from 80,000 to at least 90,000 within the same period.
As part of the initiative, the government has appointed a STEM delegation to improve collaboration between public institutions and the private sector, with a particular focus on increasing female participation in STEM. The delegation will be chaired by Pia Sandvik, CEO of Teknikföretagen (Technology Industries of Sweden).
“Pia Sandvik has a solid background in technology, research, and development,” Pehrson said. “She is a role model for many young women who have the potential to succeed in STEM but remain underrepresented.”
The delegation will spearhead efforts to attract more students to STEM fields and ensure Sweden remains competitive as a technology-driven nation.
