U.S. President Barack Obama is calling for greater U.S. investment in education and science.

In a speech at Forsyth Technical Community College in North Carolina, the U.S. president said that the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik in 1957 served as a wake-up call that caused the U.S. to boost investment in innovation and education.

He said that 50 years later, the U.S. is facing another educational and science crisis.

Obama stressed the need for continued investment in education and science, saying that such an emphasis is the best way to boost economic growth.

He also referred to South Korea’s zeal for education, including its import of foreign teachers to teach first graders English. He quoted President Lee Myung-bak as saying that South Korea puts aside five percent of gross domestic production for research and development purposes --- three percent of which is used in developing clean energy.