IBM To Provide ‘STEM’ Education To Odisha Girls In Over 100 Schools

With the enrolment of girl students in technical education remaining abysmally low, the Centre, in collaboration with various agencies initiated the STEM project in 2015-16.

The objective of the mission was to attract more and more girl students towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with tailor-made programmes. Several corporates have come forward in taking the lead in this mission.

On Thursday, IBM announced that it has signed an MoU with Odisha’s Department of School and Mass Education to introduce ‘IBM STEM for girls’ in over 100 higher secondary schools across the state.

It said the exercise will aim to advance the skills and careers of 20,000 girls and 10,000 boys in STEM fields.

The programme will help girl students to develop technical capabilities and exploit the fast-expanding job market for a qualified workforce in emerging disciplines such as Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence, an IBM statement said.

The programme includes imparting training in digital literacy, coding and technology skills to enable girls’ empowerment and increase their interest in STEM education and careers, it said.

“It is important for the entire ecosystem to come together to address the rising skill gap in the country and invest in the future of our workforce. Our collaboration with IBM will equip students with the right skills for jobs of the future and represent a diverse workforce. “ Commissioner-cum-Secretary in the School and Mass Education Department, Chitra Arumugam was quoted as saying.

IBM has also signed similar MoUs with state governments such as Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to advance the skills and careers of more than two lakh girl students in STEM.