President Akufo-Addo has broken ground on a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) School in Accra’s East Legon neighborhood.
According to him, this is part of the government’s attempts to refocus the educational system toward a greater emphasis on science and technology.
The President, speaking at the event on Monday, bemoaned the country’s slow progress in science and technology. As a result, he claims that building STEM schools throughout the nation would make Ghana more competitive on the global scene.
“Ghana has been blessed with the best and brightest on the continent who can unleash our potential and make us an active participant in the fourth industrial revolution. The time has come for us to reorient our educational system to equip students with the right technological skills needed to succeed in the 21st century.
In line with the government’s education strategy plan, which aims to increase our science to humanities ratio from 40 to 60 to the desired 60 to 40 in favor of science, the government is repositioning our educational system, which is based on STEM education.
As part of my commitment to the expansion of STEM education in the nation, the government has already begun the creation of 20 STEM centers and 10 model STEM Senior High Schools around the country, all of which are nearing completion. Some of these schools would be functioning this year, according to President Akufo-Addo.
President Akufo-Addo also voiced worry over the total number of engineering graduates produced in the nation each year. In comparison to a nation like Vietnam, Ghana, he believes, must increase its yearly engineering graduate population from 6,000 to at least 30,000.
The development of STEM Schools in Ghana was prompted by pleas from stakeholders and industry professionals for the country’s curriculum to match industry needs.
Many companies have recently expressed dissatisfaction with the gap between what is taught in the classroom and what is really needed on the job market.
President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the educational system to achieve the necessary degree of socioeconomic change.
He also used the opportunity to thank the Education Minister for his efforts in developing the STEM strategy.
“I am delighted that the school dedicated principally to the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is being brought under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I thank all stakeholders, especially my erudite Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwi, the Honourable Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum for the conception of this brilliant idea, and working out to bring it into fruition”, Akufo-Addo said.
Stakeholders in education, including the sector Minister, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, the MP for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, the Director-General for the Ghana TVET Service, the Municipal Chief Executive for the region, and other dignitaries, attended the sod cutting for the STEM School in East Legon.
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SOURCE: myjoyonline
