The Ministry of Education has announced the introduction of revolutionized system of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for improved quality.
The Ministry noted that the future was about STEM, and that the initiative would focus on building the capacity of teachers to expose more students to STEM facilities and the use of STEM equipment.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the sector minister, who made the announcement, disclosed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was able to complete procurement on the initiative.
“We are currently undertaking some training exercise for teachers in Science and Mathematics with ITEC Global,” he said during a day’s working visit to the Zebilla Senior High Technical School in the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region.
Mr Iddrisu, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tamale South Constituency, as part of the visit, inspected some infrastructure on campus to witness for himself at firsthand the deteriorating infrastructure of the school.
In response to a request for a Home Economics block by Mr Richard Ayabilla Akumbas, the Headmaster, the Minister said “Next year around this time, I will be here to commission the Home Economics block on this campus. So, we will do our best to capture you in the 2026 formula of the GETFund.”
Touching on the security situation in schools in the volatile area, Mr Iddrisu who declined to put on a bulletproof vest, said his action was a signal that bulletproof does not belong to an academic learning environment.
“Even the mere presence of police and military on this learning environment is wrong enough. It does not provide for a conductive learning atmosphere and environment that you need to strive in your studies,” he told staff and students at the school.
Mr Iddrisu commended the Police Command that accompanied his entourage for vividly instructing armed police officers to stay away from the students.
“When we walked towards you, I heard the Police Commander give vivid instructions that he did not want to see any armed police officer around you. That is commendable because you do not need to be seeing that.
“We need to say no to war and conflict. Education remains our surest bet to fight and end poverty in Northern Ghana and in this area,” he told 506 candidates who were scheduled to sit the Integrated Science paper on the day of his visit.
He noted that despite the challenges students, especially candidates in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) faced in Bawku and its environs, examiners would not consider that they were in a volatile area.
“Examiners will not even consider the fact that you are in an environment where there is no peace, you needed serenity of mind and thought, and the peace of mind to study for the exams. You were one way or the other denied this,” Mr Iddrisu said.
GNA
