DonR
Major Contributor
Math aptitude is a prerequisite for engineering. The first-year courses are about 40% math or math-related and nearly every other course builds on mathematical foundations. If the student doesn't display interest and aptitude in math before entering school, he is taking the valuable place of someone more capable. Technology courses outside of engineering can be less math-centric and might appeal to those with an interest but lacking math skills. When I went to engineering school in the 80s, you needed at least a B in high-school algebra to even be considered. My son squeaked in 30 years later with an A in calculus and still found the math difficult initially. Would you want a doctor who had no interest in human biology? Most universities have equivalence courses if someone never got the chance to study maths in high school. Once completed, he can demonstrate his ability to the admission board that way.Ah. I hope it doesn't invalidate what I wrote.
To answer your point dirextly, though, if disadvantage means that interested students who didn't geCan anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?t the chance to study the correct maths (or anything else relevant) are to be attracted into STEM subjects, it's surely a matter of giving those students first the opportunity to show aptitude, then to learn what they need,
Some countries, like Australia, have no requirement for a formal education to be regarded as an engineer but anyone who wishes to be successful in the profession must have a mastery of mathematics regardless.