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Tech firms back Trump administration STEM and computer science program
Tech companies are supporting a new Trump administration initiative to encourage disadvantaged and minority groups to study STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — along with computer science.
Run by the U.S. Department of Education, the new program aims to “better equip America’s young people with the relevant knowledge and skills that will enable them to secure high‑paying, stable jobs throughout their careers,” according to a statement from The White House.
“These skills open the door to jobs, strengthening the backbone of American ingenuity, driving solutions to complex problems across industries, and improving lives around the world,” President Trump said in the statement.
Remarkably, given their strong liberal bent and ongoing opposition to President Trump, tech companies have given their full support to the initiative, with Amazon.com. Inc., Microsoft Corp., Facebook Inc., Google Inc., Quicken Loans Inc., Salesforce.com Inc. and others launching private initiatives to support the Trump administration program.
Commenting on support for the program, Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a statement that the country is facing “a challenge that it hasn’t had to address in two generations: reworking the education system to keep pace with advancing technology. In the 1950s, the race to space drove schools to start teaching physics. Today, it’s all about computer science.”
Funding for the program has been set as “at least $200 million” per year with a focus on exploring administrative actions that will add or increase focus on computer science in existing K-12 and postsecondary programs. Curriculum’s under the program will be designed with gender and racial diversity in mind and the program requires annual reporting to gauge the effectiveness of how the funds are spent — lest President Trump decide to say “You’re fired,” “Apprentice”-style, if the funds are poorly allocated.
Targeting a broad range of people, the program will initially target the least well-off, irrespective of race, in both inner cities and rural communities, with the administrating noting that over the longer term the program will extend across all parts of the United States.
Photo: The White House/Flickr
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