1. % Tax return as a function investment
Govt Personal
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Engineering
Biology
Psychology
Informatics
Medicine
Architecture
Language
Theology

2. German study indicates that, to first order, investment in Science and Engineering education yields a positive 2% per year payback in tax. For almost all other subjects the return is negative.
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Engineering
Biology
Psychology
Informatics
Medicine
Architecture
Language
Theology
The comparison of the Chemistry figures of 1.8(7.2) with those for Psychology –3.0(0.6) indicate the true educational lunacy of the present situation in which Chemistry graduate intake was 3000 and Psychology this year. If one then takes into account the fact that the chemistry-related industries make a £5billion profit on a £50 billion turnover the present apparent lack of government concern over the looming disaster is scarcely credible.

3. All this is amazing when one considers the fact that scientists and engineers are almost the only ones who provide positive payback on investment. A German study indicates that, to first order, investment in Science and Engineering education yields a positive 2% per year payback in tax. For almost all other subjects the return is negative. The personal return is even more lucrative at ca 7%. The payback figures by subject are (un-bracketed national, bracketed personal): Chemistry 1.8(7.2), Physics 2.0(7.6), Mathematics 1.7(6.8) and Engineering 1.75 (7.6), Biology -4.3(-0.7), Psychology –3.0(0.6), Informatics -1.9(2.0), Medicine -2.4(6.0), Architecture -1.9(2.9), Language -8.5(-5.7) and Theology -7.8(-4.8). The comparison of the Chemistry figures of 1.8(7.2) with those for Psychology –3.0(0.6) indicate the true educational lunacy of the present situation in which Chemistry graduate intake was 3000 and Psychology this year. If one then takes into account the fact that the chemistry-related industries make a £5billion profit on a £50 billion turnover the present apparent lack of government concern over the looming disaster is scarcely credible.

4. All this is amazing when one considers the fact that scientists and engineers are almost the only ones who provide positive payback on investment. A German study indicates that, to first order, investment in Science and Engineering education yields a positive 2% per year payback in tax. For almost all other subjects the return is negative. The personal return is even more lucrative at ca 7%. The payback figures by subject are (un-bracketed national, bracketed personal): Chemistry 1.8(7.2), Physics 2.0(7.6), Mathematics 1.7(6.8) and Engineering 1.75 (7.6), Biology -4.3(-0.7), Psychology –3.0(0.6), Informatics -1.9(2.0), Medicine -2.4(6.0), Architecture -1.9(2.9), Language -8.5(-5.7) and Theology -7.8(-4.8). The comparison of the Chemistry figures of 1.8(7.2) with those for Psychology –3.0(0.6) indicate the true educational lunacy of the present situation in which Chemistry graduate intake was 3000 and Psychology this year. If one then takes into account the fact that the chemistry-related industries make a £5billion profit on a £50 billion turnover the present apparent lack of government concern over the looming disaster is scarcely credible.

5. Basically the situation is clear the Government is investing heavily in loss making educational subjects and encouraging the wanton destruction of our capacity to teach those who add effectively to the Nation’s wealth.

6. Even more disturbing is the situation in our schools. Of teachers teaching pre-16s in a given subject, 70% (30%) physics; 50% (10%) chemistry and 40% (30%) biology respectively do not have a degree (or an A level) in the subject. In fact 10% of them are being taught physics by teachers who do not even have an O-level in physics! Few children of years, the age when charismatic teachers inspire children, are being taught by teachers with adequate subject-specific science qualifications. Behind most successful women and men were great teachers who inspired and motivated them at crucial stages in their development and films such as “the Dead Poets Society” and “The Emperor’s Club” probe this issue (in the Arts) in entertaining, thought-provoking and compelling ways.