Kide Science, Sesame Workshop, and PAUTA connect to advance STEM education in Mexican preschools

Kide Science, in collaboration with Sesame Workshop and Programa Adopte un Talento (PAUTA), has launched a new initiative to mprove access to STEM education for preschool children in underserved communities across Mexico. 

The program is supported by funding from Business Finland and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and will focus on equipping 20 to 30 public schools with STEM resources and teacher training.

The project addresses significant challenges in STEM education equity, particularly in Latin America, where international assessments such as the 2022 PISA results highlight persistent gaps in Mathematics, Reading, and Science. Despite slight pre-pandemic improvements, progress in these areas has stalled or reversed in recent years.

As part of the initiative, Kide Science will develop lesson activities linked to Sesame Street Mecha Builders, an animated series featuring reimagined Sesame Street characters solving problems using STEM concepts. 

The resources will be available in both Spanish and English to ensure accessibility and will include teacher training designed to improve STEM instruction and foster diversity and inclusion in these fields.

The program will collaborate with state-level Secretariats of Education in Mexico to implement the initiative. Educators will receive evidence-based resources to help them teach STEM subjects more effectively, aiming to close education gaps and inspire interest among girls and other underrepresented groups in STEM.

Sari Hurme-Mehtälä, co-founder and managing director of Kide Science, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating: 

“The commitment and support of our highly-esteemed project and funding partners illustrates the global importance of promoting equity in STEM. Together, we’re working to ensure that all learners, regardless of their circumstances or background, have equal opportunities to explore and excel in these fields.”

This program also sets the stage for potential expansion to other countries, aligning with Kide Science’s broader mission to make STEM education accessible globally.