U.S. to Recruit 10,000 Math, Science Teachers

WASHINGTON (Xinhua) - U.S. President Barack Obama Monday announced a goal of recruiting 10,000 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers in the next two years.

"This announcement will move the country forward on the Obama Administration's ambitious goal of preparing 100,000 STEM teachers over the next decade," the White House said in a statement.

Obama has made improving STEM education one of his top priorities as American students lag in math and science compared with peers around the world.

"Strengthening STEM education is vital to preparing our students to compete in the 21st century economy and we need to recruit and train math and science teachers to support our nation's students," he said in a statement.

Obama identified three priorities for STEM education: increasing STEM literacy, improving the quality of math and science teaching and expanding STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and minorities.

Meanwhile, the president again mentioned his administration's "Race to the Top" initiative, a 4-billion-U.S.-dollar plan aims at reforms from kindergarten to the 12th grade, as one of the "most powerful tools for reform" in many years.

Manila Bulletin