A senior Lecturer with the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Mrs. Ama Kyeraa Thomford has called on the general public to encourage the girl-child to participate in STEM-related programs.
This according to her will elevate women to advance themselves through innovative education in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Proudly speaking as a beneficiary of STEM EDUCATION, Mrs. Thomford applauded the government for helping to build the capacity of the girls and women in Ghana.
“We are grateful to the government of Ghana for successively helping build up the capacity of girls and women in science through the STEM programs. And I am a proud beneficiary of the STEM clinic some 27 years ago when I was in junior high school. I am thankful that we as a country have been promoting women and girls in science.”
She was speaking in an exclusive interview with ATL FM news ahead of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science which was slated on February 11, 2023.
She revealed that to aid in easy admission into STEM-related Institutions, a portal has been created online for the girl-child interested in STEM-related programs.
Explaining how the portal can be accessed, Mrs. Thomford said “Please go online, try to look at the schools, and try to see if you can get space for your children there. Many people want to go to other schools that do science courses because many people don’t know of these new schools which are highly equipped to help people in these very unique natures like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.”
She, therefore, encouraged Ghanaians to take advantage of such opportunities and encourage the girls who to her can help solve some of the problems in the country.
Meanwhile, a Senior Lecturer with the Department of Water and Sanitation of the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Mrs. Martha Osei Marfo also said that a highly populated number of women scientists in the world will facilitate sustainable development nationwide.
International Day for Women and Girls in Science allows to recognize the role women and girls play in science, promote the idea of STEM careers to future generations of women and educate men on their role in encouraging and mentoring the girl-child to pursue their technical and scientific needs.
Dr. Mrs. Martha Osei Marfo says Women and girls play an important role in Science and Technology and therefore need to be encouraged to take on science-related programs.
She explained that as women and girls are agents of change, they should not have any fear in going into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to help bring the change the country seeks soon.
The 2023 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, was observed on February 11 with a highlight of a simple equation: More women and girls in science equals better science
Gender bias in science has resulted in drug tests that treat the female body as an aberration, and search algorithms that perpetuate discrimination, but the solution is simple: increase the numbers of women working in the field and support the girls hoping to join them one day.
That’s the message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed on Saturday, February 11 who appealed for concrete action to increase their ranks.
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Source: Enoch Chanimbe & Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLLFMNEWS
