Dive Brief:

• In a survey from the Bayer Facts of Science Education Surveys, conducted every 20 years, 85% of teachers said they’d include more hands-on science instruction if they could.
• As for the barriers, 49% said funding issues prevented them from doing so, while 80% said they lacked time.
• Roughly three-fifths, or 61%, of teachers said more focus on science education is needed in schools.

Dive Insight:

Science and math instruction are gaining importance as more STEM-related jobs open up. But industry experts say relatively few students are well-prepared.

The study also found that teachers, along with parents and community members, felt that there was still work to be done on getting girls and minority students into STEM-related fields. For example, 85% of teachers said female students were just as enthusiastic about science as their male counterparts. More than 90% of parents and teachers agreed the science and math community should develop programs specifically targeted at young women and minority students.

As part of the study, Bayer is launching a social media campaign to thank those who inspire scientific imagination and support science education.