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Gates to Congress: Improve Math, Science Education
3/13/2008
- Measurements of progress, which he said are sorely lacking;
- Alignment of state standards to the demands of higher education (which is not presently happening); and
- Improvements to "support, working conditions, and incentives necessary for teachers to be truly effective."
In higher education, he said, the quality is there, with the United States boasting some of the best colleges and universities in the world. But too few students are being graduated with STEM degrees.
Immigration Reform Could Alleviate 'Grave' Situation
Education, however, is only part of the issue, according to Gates. He said that improving education is one thing, but keeping those we educate in this country once they've been graduated is another issue altogether--one that must be addressed through immigration reform.
"At a time when talent is the key to economic success, it makes no sense to educate people in our universities, often subsidized by U.S. taxpayers, and then insist that they return home," he in a statement released to coincide with his testimony. "To address the shortage of scientists and engineers, we must ... reform our education system and our immigration policies. If we don't, American companies simply will not have the talent they need to innovate and compete."
In his testimony, he blamed the situation on arbitrary H-1B caps.
"Congress's failure to pass high-skilled immigration reform has exacerbated an already grave situation. For example, the current base cap of 65,000 H-1B visas is arbitrarily set and bears no relation to the U.S. economy's demand for skilled professionals. For fiscal year 2007, the supply ran out more than four months before that fiscal year even began. For fiscal year 2008, the supply of H-1B visas ran out on April 2, 2007, the first day that petitions could be filed and [six] months before the visas would even be issued. Nearly half of those who sought a visa on that day did not receive one."
He cited three reforms that could make a difference in alleviating the situation:
- Extended Optional Practical Training periods that would allow students to remain in the country longer after graduation, from 12 months to 29 months;
- Streamlining the path to permanent resident status for highly skilled workers;
- An increase on the cap on visas and the elimination of "per-country limits" to meet the near-term need for qualified workers by American industry.
"I want to emphasize that the shortage of scientists and engineers is so acute that we must do both: reform our education system and reform our immigration policies," Gates told the House committee. "This is not an either-or proposition. If we do not do both, U.S. companies simply will not have the talent they need to innovate and compete."
Federal Funding for Research
Gates also called on the committee to increase federal research funding and to provide incentives for private-sector research and development. Funding for basic scientific research has stagnated or declined in the United States--dropping by half as a percentage of GDP since 1970 for physical sciences and engineering research.
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