A Child’s Passion or a Parent’s Choice?

I have witnessed a lot disturbing issues concerning students making a choice of STEM pathway at school during my 13 years experience as a STEM teacher, mentor and advocate for youth, especially girls.

Today I am sharing two instances in which I experienced the total disappointment of two students as their future was nearly disrupted simply because their parents wanted to impose on them a specific course to follow in their STEM education.

After I graduated from the technical teachers training college 13 years ago, I was posted to teach in a technical school in Bamenda. It was a routine that at the beginning of every academic school year, children who wanted to attend this school had to sit for a written interview. It was considered as the entrance exam where qualified students will be selected.

This exam was used to evaluate the children, so that they could be orientated towards one of STEM fields offered in this school. It was actually a means to drill the children in order discover the child’s passion and field of interest.

I will never forget a scene that I witnessed on the same campus 5 years ago. A tall and huge parents landed 3 solid slaps at his12 year old son. This happened after his son had just come out of the examination hall. The sound was loud and the child screamed out, causing teachers on duty to rush towards them to find out what the matters was exactly. On arriving the scene, the parent was very furious and arrogant. What we latter on understood was that he wanted his son to choose a particular STEM field. He actually instructed his son to choose Wood Work.

On viewers narrated that when this child left the exam hall, his father was eager to know about his experience and his choice of trade. During their conversation the child told his father that he had opted for Building Construction, causing the parent to become very angry and disappointed, finally pushing him to react in a violent manner.

By the end of that day, the guidance and counselling officer at the school called the parent to order. She patiently explained the aim of the entrance exam and the effect it had on his son’s future. Finally the student's choice of field was respected.

I remember another case of a student who never entered the classroom for one full term because he did not like his choice of STEM field. He decided to stay out of class, spending his time loitering around the campus and library. He always looked around for companions to hang around and commit mischievous acts.

One day, he finally got noticed by the discipline master who conveyed the case to the disciplinary counsel.The student’s parents were invited to school accordingly and the student opened up to his father, telling him that he did not like to study Electricity. Instead, he wanted to study Motor Mechanics. He further explained that he was forced to make that choice which did not match with his aspirations. At the end of the meeting, a decision was taken that the child will change to his field of choice and interest. The student has since then, never missed any class and today excels in his dream field.

It is common to find parents trying to influence teachers at this particular time of the school year, with the hope of making sure that their children get into a particular STEM field. It is also common scene to find parents instructing children on what choice to make before they finally get into the exam hall.

The stories above are two amongst many that have inspired me and given me the drive, to enlighten both parents and students on the importance and quality of choices they makeagainstSTEM programs and their future benefits.

At CYEED vocation technical training center that I founded, I inspire children about the different STEM fields by organizing STEM programs that will help them gain interest in any of the STEM field. We want to impact positively their way of thinking, developing their logic and perspective of things and to expose the multiple possibilities that technology presents for youths and aspiring women in technology with the assistance of mentors to guide them.

I have learned that young people have a brighter future when they develop their self-esteem and confidence about themselves and what they do. When youth do what they like, they are happy about it and put in their best to ensure success.

I ask this question? Can Parents Allow Youths to Follow their Passion?

I envision a society where school children are allowed to explore the different STEM fields early on, to increase their focus and interaction with Tech tools, introducing them to all the different STEM related fields and finally inspiring them to choose for themselves the sector where they are most comfortable and passionate.

Our youth are the next generation of leaders, let’s train them to be assertive and objective.

I call on parents to guide but allow and respect their children’s passions and dreams in order for them to pursue their interest and curiosity. Bearing in mind that it is important for parents to orientate their children, parents should also restrain from imposing an absolute choice (from a parent’s perspective) on a child’s education pathway.