The effect of secondary mathematics on future choice in stem professions

Abstract

Reducing leakage from STEM to non-STEM professions is important, mainly due to the great demand for quality manpower in STEM fields. This study aims to characterize learners who have the potential to drop out of STEM fields, as well as examining various pathways in which dropout occurs. Using big-data analysis based on 534,590 records retrieved from the CBS in Israel for several points in time over one and a half decades, we identified eight pathways to choosing a profession from secondary school to graduating a bachelor's degree, and characterized learners in each pathway based on educational characteristics. Findings reveal three dominant pathways of which one reflects a leakage from STEM in secondary school to non-STEM in higher education. Further, advanced secondary math is the best indicator of completing a STEM degree.