THE PARADOX OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) COURSES: AN APPROACH BASED ON RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY

Abstract

The decline in interest in professional programs in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and the high dropout rates are global phenomena. Despite the rapid growth and launch of various technologies that demand precisely these professionals, what we are seeing is low demand for programs in these areas and even lower completion rates among students entering these programs, resulting in a high dropout rate. In Brazil, this becomes even more concerning because the country depends on this human capital to leverage reindustrialization, the energy transition, and digital transformation. This article proposes to correlate the reasons that lead young people to not choose STEM programs or to drop out without first completing them, using Rational Choice Theory (RCT) as a theoretical basis. To this end, we used data from the most recent higher education census and data from other related articles published in the last five years, primarily based on data from Brazilian higher education institutions. The results indicate that the decision to drop out can be understood as a rational calculation, influenced by vocational, academic, socioeconomic, and informational factors. Initiatives to minimize this problem, particularly in STEM programs, involve greater student access to information, more assertive public policies, and more proactive actions by HEIs to adapt to new market demands and the realities of their students.