Better-paying jobs can ignite students' passion for STEM

While taking a walk after a late lunch to get some exercise and to enjoy the winter sun, I noticed the middle school in my community had changed its name. For many years, it was named after the university it was affiliated with. Now it's called Science and Technology Branch of Beijing Middle School — considered by many to be the best senior high school in my district.

The neighborhood should be happy after finally getting a "good school". But what caught my attention were two Chinese characters in the name, ke ji, which mean science and technology. They indicated the school, apart from having the required curriculum, will focus more on teaching science and technology.

On checking further, I found out the new school is part of my district's efforts to promote science and technology education. The school is to be guided jointly by the Beijing Middle School Educational Group and five nearby universities. Being a branch of the district's "best school", it should impart high-quality education, with the five universities giving students access to their labs and arranging for lectures by their professors. The target is to rear talents interested in science and technology.