Kanawu Radio number 1 news portal
Some 180 girls from selected Basic Schools in the Kotei community, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, have been exposed to the study of science-based courses at the tertiary level. They were also taken through basic scientific experiments to understand the theories they learnt in school.
The two-day seminar was organised by DANIDA Alumni Network Ghana (DAN-G), in collaboration with the College of Science, KNUST and with support from Gh Scientific.
The students from Kotei Roman Catholic and Rakho School follow their peers from Ayeduase Roman Catholic who blazed the first edition.
Mentoring and coaching sessions were facilitated by lecturers of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, members of DAN-G and Women in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics(WiSTEMGH) network.
Experts took participants through career opportunities in STEM, career guidance sessions and selection of study programmes for secondary and tertiary education.
Participants were also taken through cyber security lessons at the Digital Forensic Lab of the College of Science as well as the engineering and science laboratories during the educational tours.
The global Danida Alumni Network seeks to ensure further collaboration between former Danida fellows, companies, NGOs and institutions.
Project team lead of the STEM seminar series, Dr Abena Boakye is hopeful the initiative will help demystify science and math, particularly among females at the lower levels of education and in the long term, increase the number of females pursuing STEM courses and careers for National development.
“It has been well documented most often we hear of pupils in upper primary and JHS saying they cannot do science so we hope we’ll be able to demystify science to females,” she said.
STEM Girls
Girl Child Coordinator at the Kumasi Metro Education Office, Madam Vida Owusu pledged the directorate’s support for STEM initiatives.
She assured her outfit will continue to increase the number of girls in the annual STEM programme organized by the Directorate.
“During our camp a high percentage is given to girls and we believe this will encourage them to take more science-based careers,” she said.
President of WISTEMGHand Provost of the College of Science, Prof Ibok Oduro says the move is in accordance with the organisation’s theme of inspiring the next generation.
She was optimistic about the future role of STEM in the Nation’s development.
“Science must be communicated from generation to generation to support development of the nation. Seeing these young ones, it excites me to know we are providing opportunity and the appropriate exposure to motivate them to pursue STEM courses and careers.” She said.
She was optimistic of increased enrollment but said sponsorship will be crucial in realising this vision.
Participants were happy for the opportunity and shared how the programme has exposed them to new science fields and careers they could explore with the right attitude, passion and perseverance.
“I’ve gotten to know Engineering and I know I have to learn hard to become an engineer (Mary Owusu of Kotei R/C).”
