STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING QUALITY ASSURANCE MECHANISM IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
ANWO, Abdulmalik Olayinka, 2UMOREN, Friday Alphonsus, 3TAHIR, Habiba Umar
Abstract
Abstract, The widespread recognition of education as a major driver of economic competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy has made high quality education more important than ever before. This emphasize the importance of ensuring quality assurance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for sustainable development through quality education. Thus, this paper delves into the meaning and importance of STEM education, achieving quality education through STEM Education, parameters for measuring quality assurance in STEM Education, challenges of quality assurance in STEM education as well as strategies for improving quality assurance mechanism in STEM education. The paper concludes that the importance of STEM education in providing quality education cannot be overemphasized and ensuring quality assurance in STEM education should be paramount to stakeholders in the field of education. Regular inspection of schools from the science section of the Ministries of Education, setting up of quality assurance implementation committees as well as encouraging STEM teachers to attend in-service trainings such as sandwich and part-time training through government sponsorship were recommended.