The STEM program has received $6 million from the Department of Workforce Services and the Utah State Office of Education. The money will be used for science, technology, engineering and math education.
Nic Dunn, the Public Information Officer for the Department of Workforce Services, said the money will go toward in-school and after-school programs for public K-12 schools.
“The general idea is that you have students in school today that will learn these skills through STEM," he said. "The hope is that we want to inspire these kids and we want to show them and society how exciting and beneficial a STEM education can be."
Dunn said, in the long run, it will also be beneficial to the economy.
“That individual economic security for them translates into aggregate economic security for the state," he said. "It further builds our foundation for a stronger economy moving forward.”
Dunn said it is important to educate people in math and science today to meet the demands of tomorrow's technology
“As they are getting these skills, they are much more equip to enter into those advanced programs when they get into higher education," he said. "So, this is an essential piece of the entire pipeline. Moving kids from early education, early classes today into high-tech, high paying solid jobs in the future.”
