The Dramatic Drop in Mathematics and Physics Students in High Schools: Consequences and Causes for Concern

Applicants for the technology and engineering fields of the universities are, in fact, graduates of the field of mathematics and physics in high schools. Recently, the officials have symbolically declared the red alarm for the dramatic reduction in the students in the field of mathematics and physics in high schools. That is, surveys indicate that students have become increasingly less likely to pursue the field of mathematics and physics during the last two decades, leading to fewer applicants for engineering and technology fields of higher-level education. This would in turn inflict irreparable damages to the country's industry, production, employment, development, and technology shortly, and on the other hand, the perceived decrease in competition among applicants in this field has arguably caused a drop in the scientific level of candidates applying for the engineering fields. The findings of the current research indicate that this downturn in the application is directly related to the perceived career future of that field, mediated through the attitude of the families and individuals regarding the direction of life.