Why early STEM education matters—and what Kerala must urgently address

In today’s world, the ability to understand and apply basic STEM concepts is not just a bonus—it’s a necessity. From navigating everyday tech to building future careers, early exposure to science, math, and technology plays a critical role.

In many parts of Kerala, children grow up helping parents repair household electronics, assisting in farms with simple mechanical tools, or trying to fix broken toys with available materials. These moments are rich with curiosity and experimentation—natural gateways into STEM. However, formal schooling often lacks the structure to nurture this curiosity.

A strong foundation in basic math, particularly arithmetic, is key to building the skills necessary for broader STEM learning. Yet, according to the ASER 2024 report, Kerala has seen a steady decline in arithmetic proficiency among Class VIII students in government schools. In 2018, 43.3% of students could do basic division. This dropped to 39.9% in 2022 and further declined to just 31.0% in 2024. That’s a 12.3 percentage point drop in six years, despite Kerala's strong educational legacy. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh has made remarkable progress: from 32.0% in 2018 to 41.7% in 2022, and now 45.6% in 2024—a 13.6 percentage point gain. These contrasting trends reveal the urgent need for Kerala to reassess and fundamentally revitalize its approach to foundational math and STEM education.

This isn't just about academic performance. It’s about whether our children are equipped to be thinkers, tinkerers, and problem-solvers in a tech-driven world. A solid grasp of basic arithmetic is essential for building confidence and competence in STEM fields. This report, coupled with my recent interactions with students, serves as merely a preliminary indicator. When Ajas from EduPort, an organization focused on educational technology, shared this report with me, I was astounded.

At TinkerHub, Kutty Makers is one of our responses to this challenge. It's an ongoing, hands-on STEM learning program run at TinkerSpace, where school students from across Kerala explore the world of electronics, robotics, coding, and problem-solving through guided experimentation. With 200+ students already engaged, we’re seeing firsthand how a spark of curiosity can evolve into meaningful learning.

But Kutty Makers is just a starting point. The larger goal is to integrate STEM learning deeply into the early curriculum and make it accessible, fun, and hands-on for every child in Kerala—not as a privilege, but as a right.

The big question we’re now asking is: how do we take curiosity-led STEM learning to thousands of kids across Kerala, not as a special program—but as part of the everyday schooling experience?

Let’s build a future where every child in Kerala learns to create, not just consume.