“I believe one of the biggest problems with falling behind is that students often don’t feel they can approach their teacher and ask for help. Most STEM topics build on previously learned material. If a student hasn’t learned how to solve linear equations, quadratic ones will be a struggle. In such cases, according to the students, teachers are often reluctant to go back and explain past topics. They are more willing to give consultations on current material.”
In early childhood, kids explore the world through sensory experiences and their favorite question: “Why?” At this stage, parents often scramble to recall school knowledge or find simple ways to explain why airplanes fly or why computers don’t feel anything. This is a great window to nurture curiosity through experiments, games, and beautifully illustrated encyclopedias. So modern STEM approaches to teaching science and math in school are far from foreign—they build on that same innate curiosity.
STEM education helps young people adapt to the modern world faster—a world driven by an innovation economy where new technologies and professions emerge constantly. But in reality, this concept that sounds great on paper often faces challenges—challenges that can turn into opportunities for growth.
How has the full-scale war intensified these challenges in Ukraine? Why is mentoring becoming one of the most promising solutions to these issues? Kunsht asked practicing teachers and mentors from the StudMentor program, implemented by the Teach for Ukraine NGO, Hanna Kovalevska and Vladyslav Kucheriavyi.
This article was published in partnership with the Teach for Ukraine NGO, which runs the volunteer-based StudMentor program. Within this initiative, young people from across Ukraine become mentors to students (mentees) from frontline communities, helping them catch up on school subjects.
