What does "理科離れ" mean?

[F-Off]

What does 理科離れ mean?

 

[Frankincense]

Hi.

理科 ＝ science
離れ = distancing from sth, independence of sth, disinterest in sth

理科離れ literally means keeping distance from science. This refers to a national issue where young people have a tendency not to choose study or career paths that are related to science.

 

[progste]

Is it a common problem in Japan?
also, is りかばな the right way to read it?

 

[Frankincense]

Hmm... I don't know exactly when this problem arised nor to what degree. For more information you can read the ja.wikipedia.org entry of 理科離れ. It's in Japanese though.

Yes the correct reading is りかばなれ.