Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697749998588.pdf (Ireland)
Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Aontas Daltaí Iar-bhunscoile na hÉireann Representing, Uplifting and Defending Student Voice A Chathoirleach, Caitlin Faye Maniti is ainm dom agus is mise an Uachatarán don Aontas Daltaí Iar-Bhunscoile na hÉireann.

I thank you for your invitation to present before the committee here today.

The Irish Second-Level students Union is the national representative body of second-levels students in Ireland.
One of our core aims is to actively address the challenges and worries faced by students on a local, regional, national and international level.

The ISSU is fully committed to working alongside all stakeholders to find solutions to the issues that face students.

It is in this spirit that I speak before you today.

The study of STEM subjects opens up a variety of different doors for students in terms of progressing to further higher education.
However the we recognise that the opportunities for all students to learn a STEM subject has significant barriers including: 1) Lack of resourcing and funding 2) The accessibility of these subjects 3) Female Stereotypes and biases 1) Lack of resourcing and funding Newer, smaller subjects such as Computer Science need to become more mainstream, to do this we need the infrastructure and teacher supply.
Computers to properly support and coding are popular amongst students as hobbies, but Leaving Certificate Computer Science and Junior Cycle Coding we must look at the bigger picture.

To put it simply, we don't have enough teachers available.
Students can enter a plethora of different computer science related competitions from BT to SciFest to VEX Robotics, however the vast majority of students will not get an opportunity to study computer science as a subject because it will not be offered at their school.

The ISSU recommends that there be an increase of investments in facilities for carrying out these STEM subjects.
2) The accessibility of these subjects As a result, the lack of resourcing and funding of these subjects contributes to its inaccessibilty.

Schools such as DEIS schools in disadvantaged areas and rural schools often suffer the short end of the stick when it comes to funding.

The cost of materials needed to facilitate subjects such as technology or graphics may be unattainable for these schools.
Therefore, excluding these cohorts of students from many opportunities and/or reducing the quality of their education.

Notably during COVID when schools closed due to high cases teaching and learning reverted to online learning.
Where students were left behind in their education, in rural areas Irish Second-Level Students’ Union ISSU 9th Floor, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, D01 F9K2, Rep. of Ireland Tel: + 353 1 443 4461 | Fax: + 353 1 686 5567 | info@issu.ie | www.issu.ie Facebook: issu4u | Twitter: issu4u | Instagram: issu4u | Snapchat: issu4u | TikTok: issu4u Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Dublin Registered Address: ISSU 9th Floor, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 | Registration no.
511901 | Charity registration no: 20141868 (CHY22315) Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Aontas Daltaí Iar-bhunscoile na hÉireann Representing, Uplifting and Defending Student Voice where broadband and wifi was inadequate.

Since then, the use of technology has significantly increased and schools began using these systems of automation to advance the teaching and learning experience.

However, due to the accessibility issues I have outlined, students in these areas are still being left behind.
The ISSU recommends more support for students in rural areas to access digital learning tools by providing infrastructure for students to purchase technological devices along with improving broadband connections in rural Ireland.

The ISSU recommends an increase in funding and resources to be given to DEIS schools and schools in disadvantaged areas to facilitate STEM subjects.
3) Female Stereotypes and biases STEM has always been a typically male dominated field, currently 73% of workers are male and 27% are female, and this attitude is fostered in schools.

STEM subjects such as woodwork, metalwork and technology are available in a select number of schools, and the majority of these schools are single sex male schools.

Even at the early ages of life, girls are not given the opportunity to develop a love for STEM as they do not have the access to study the subjects in school.
Female students may attend co-educational schools as they would have more of an opportunity to study these subjects; however, many of these students are then exposed to sexism and discrimination due to gender stereotypes and biases.

Therefore, ultimately discourages female students from joining and are significantly less likely than their male peers to pursue education in STEM.

Thus, heavily contributing to the massive barrier of females entering STEM careers.
The ISSU recommends the creation of initiatives to encourage and ensure that female students feel welcomed and supported in pursuing practical STEM subjects to Leaving Certificate level.

In order to ensure that educational equity is established.

We further recommend the creation of new initiatives to ensure a long term impact.

Emphasis should be placed on informing and supporting girls’ career/third level education choices.
The support should be given to all-girls schools to gain facilities and resources to teach more STEM subjects, notably engineering, metalwork, woodwork, and technology.

The ISSU welcomes the plan to implement the updated subject curricula mentioned in the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Publication in relation to the STEM subjects Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
STEM needs to be more relevant to students, many are just rote learning chemicals, experiments and not actually understanding what it to-the-exam, some is they are studying.

Even laboratory subjects are taught chemistry students may never perform a titration and can still get a H1 due to this.

This is a massive oversight and senior cycle redevelopment presents an opportunity to rectify this and make STEM subjects engaging and relevant for students.
Irish Second-Level Students’ Union ISSU 9th Floor, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, D01 F9K2, Rep. of Ireland Tel: + 353 1 443 4461 | Fax: + 353 1 686 5567 | info@issu.ie | www.issu.ie Facebook: issu4u | Twitter: issu4u | Instagram: issu4u | Snapchat: issu4u | TikTok: issu4u Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Dublin Registered Address: ISSU 9th Floor, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 | Registration no.
511901 | Charity registration no: 20141868 (CHY22315) Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Aontas Daltaí Iar-bhunscoile na hÉireann Representing, Uplifting and Defending Student Voice the new Leaving Certificate Climate Action and Sustainable On another note, Development subject presents a rare opportunity for students to study a fast-evolving science relevant to their daily lives.
The ISSU would like to take this opportunity to mention our recommendation for Climate Science to be included on the course which would further develop young people's passion for STEM.

In conclusion there is huge potential and demand to see the increase in STEM subjects.

However the current inequalities in these subjects should no longer be tolerated.

Thank you for listening and I’m very happy to address any questions you may have.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Caitlin-Faye Maniti Uachtarán Irish Second-Level Students’ Union March 7th 2023 Irish Second-Level Students’ Union ISSU 9th Floor, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, D01 F9K2, Rep. of Ireland Tel: + 353 1 443 4461 | Fax: + 353 1 686 5567 | info@issu.ie | www.issu.ie Facebook: issu4u | Twitter: issu4u | Instagram: issu4u | Snapchat: issu4u | TikTok: issu4u Irish Second-Level Students’ Union Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Dublin Registered Address: ISSU 9th Floor, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 | Registration no.
511901 | Charity registration no: 20141868 (CHY22315)