The Perth Declaration on Science and Technology Education of 2007 expresses
strong concern about the state of science and technology education worldwide and calls
on governments to respond to a number of suggestions for establishing the structural
conditions for their improved practice. The quality of school education in science and
technology has never before been of such critical importance to governments. There
are three imperatives for its critical importance.
The first relates to the traditional role of science in schooling, namely the identification,
motivation and initial preparation of those students who will go on to further studies for
careers in all those professional fields that directly involve science and technology. A
sufficient supply of these professionals is vital to the economy of all countries and to
the health of their citizens. In the 21st century they are recognised everywhere as key
players in ensuring that industrial and economic development occurs in a socially and
environmentally sustainable way. In many countries this supply is now falling seriously
short and urgently needs to be addressed.