Minister for Education announces trebling of budget for STEM grants for schools to €4.7 million

Minister for Education Norma Foley T.D. today announced a trebling of the budget for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grants to €4.7m. The announcement, which comes as a result of phenomenal demand, marks a significant stride towards advancing STEM education in schools nationwide.

€4.7 is being provided in funding for STEM projects, which represents an increased allocation from the €1.5m originally announced.

In total 446 primary and 85 post-primary schools across the country are receiving funding amounts of between €1,000 and €10,000. The schools will receive eighty-five percent of the funding in 2023 with the remaining fifteen percent paid following a reporting and evaluation process in 2024.

The successful projects include a focus on coding, robotics, growing plants without soil, modules on AI, interpreting weather patterns, film and animation, student STEM Clubs and Community-Based Science Fairs.

Minister Foley said:

"We have had an overwhelming response to the grant scheme, with in excess of 2,700 applications. It is truly inspiring to see the dedication and passion exhibited by schools across the country in their pursuit of excellence in STEM education."

The upsurge in applications for the STEM grants comes in the wake of the very positive eight point increase in science literacy scores by Irish students in the recently published. OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 results. Irish students have moved from twenty-second place to twelfth place in science literacy amongst the 81 countries taking part in the PISA project.

Minister Foley said:

"I recognise the pivotal role that Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and the Arts play in fostering the skills that our students need for success in various aspects of life. The STEM grant scheme aims to empower schools to provide the high-quality STEM education required for all their students."

The STEM grant scheme realises a commitment under the STEM Education Implementation Plan to 2026 which was published in March 2023. The Implementation Plan sets out a programme of work in order to continue to achieve and improve the STEM education experience for all learners. The revised Science curriculum for Junior Cycle students was introduced in 2016 and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is currently carrying out a public consultation on new curricula for the Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects for Leaving Certificate.

Minister Foley praised the high quality of the applications for the STEM grants and the innovative approaches from the schools involved.

"The successful applicants, represent a diverse range of primary and post-primary schools from across the country. The grants will support these schools in implementing initiatives that are designed to ignite interest and participation in STEM and will enhance STEM curriculum and learner engagement."

The Department is front loading the grant scheme this year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run in 2024. It means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future.

Minister Foley said:

"While we celebrate the achievements of the selected schools, we also want to express our gratitude to all the schools that participated in the application process. The competition was fierce, with high calibre applications, and unfortunately, not all applicants could be successful on this occasion.

"To those schools whose applications were not selected, your commitment to advancing STEM education does not go unnoticed and I would encourage you to continue your efforts in providing the best possible learning experiences for our students."

ENDS

Notes for Editor

Ireland's STEM Education Policy

The Department of Education's STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 sets out the ambitious goals and actions required to achieve and improve the STEM education experience and outcomes for all learners from early years to post-primary school.

The STEM Education Implementation Plan 2017-2019 published alongside the policy statement, built on a range of reforms and initiatives already underway in STEM, in areas such as curriculum and assessment reform, teacher professional development, embedding digital learning and advances in initial teacher education. The areas of policy development and action in relation to STEM education span 4 pillars as follows:

• Nurture Learner engagement and participation;

• Enhance early years practitioner and teacher capacity;

• Support STEM Education Practice; and

• Use Evidence to support STEM education.

The second implementation plan, STEM Education Implementation Plan to 2026

was published on 2nd March of this year and is a joint plan developed by the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Implementation of the programme of work to 2026 spans the four pillars of policy development from the Policy Statement and the actions identified in the Implementation Plan take into account the findings of a robust consultation process. The Implementation Plan provides for the continued journey in STEM education

STEM Education Grant

The STEM Education Implementation Plan to 2026, commits to the development of a scheme which includes the provision of funding, to enhance, develop or re-establish STEM education projects that engage learners in STEM in primary and/or post-primary schools.

Objectives:

· To allow schools to assess the current STEM programmes/resources available in their schools

· To enhance their current STEM learning opportunities

· To re-establish STEM activities

· To begin STEM activity/learning opportunity not previously available

Outcomes:

· Enhance and reinforce the learning of the curriculum

· Encouraging the development of a wide range of skills in learners

· Schools can develop their STEM offering

· Pupils/Students have the opportunity to engage in STEM learning opportunities and/or access to STEM resources in school without incurring additional costs

· Greater engagement for schools with the STEM community

Criteria:

· Applications will be considered from any recognised primary, post-primary or special school within the free education scheme

· Schools must submit a project plan highlighting the need for the initiative or resources and fully detailing the amount required and how it will be spent.

· Grants can be used to purchase equipment and tuition by external facilitators if required but grants are not intended for use on capital expenditure such as structural or building costs.

· Schools must have a nominated person or persons to manage the programme

· Schools must outline the expectations they have for the project, i.e. what will be achieved.

· Schools which have previously received STEM related funding will be considered for this grant, only if all reporting requirements in relation to that funding has been received by the Department

Selection of proposals will also be informed by:

· Geographic national spread

· A broad range of activities

· A broad range of school types

Ineligible schools:

· Schools outside the Free Education Scheme

Payment of Grants

· 85% of grant paid to schools December 2023

· Remaining 15% paid in summer term, pending project progress.

· Evaluation process to commence September 2024

List of the schools granted STEM funding