Sunyani: Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has emphasized the need for educational institutions to instill critical and creative thinking skills, along with strong personal and social competencies, in students. He highlighted the importance of such skills in shaping future innovators who possess effective communication abilities and a spirit of collaboration and teamwork. Additionally, he urged schools to enhance students’ ICT proficiencies.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Davis shared these insights while speaking at the Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) project event in Sunyani. The GES is working in collaboration with Itec Global, a science-focused firm, to implement BSTEM, which aims to improve science and mathematics education at the basic level. Launched as a pilot project in 2024, BSTEM has provided 100 Junior High Schools with kits containing science and mathematics equipment, enabling teachers to adopt practical, problem-solving, and experimental methods in their lessons.
The project also integrates digital tools and technologies to develop students’ skills in office applications, programming, and robotics, promoting a comprehensive STEM education. Professor Davis encouraged teachers to constantly upgrade their knowledge and skills, noting that training entrepreneurs and innovators requires deliberate efforts to advance STEM and entrepreneurship education at all levels.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, underscored the importance of building a robust foundation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. He pointed out that STEM is not just about laboratories and formulas but is essential for addressing national challenges such as food security, climate change, healthcare, and sustainable energy. The Minister emphasized the need for the education system to transition from memorization to methods that prioritize inquiry, problem-solving, and creativity, thus helping learners identify and develop their talents from an early age.
Central to this vision, he noted, is the role of teachers. Regardless of how well a curriculum is designed, it cannot succeed without modern training that equips educators with the necessary knowledge, tools, and confidence to effectively deliver STEM education at all levels. The BSTEM program, he added, is vital in ensuring that teachers are equipped with 21st-century methods and skills to integrate technology and innovation into their teaching.
Madam Cressy Godding, the Project Director at Itec Global, explained that the company, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the GES, has developed an integrated STEM approach for classroom instruction. She mentioned that the pilot project covered 100 schools, involving 200 teachers and 50 trainers, and that the first phase of the project will expand to 4,400 Junior High Schools nationwide. Each school will receive kits for science, mathematics, robotics, ICT, and engineering, with 8,800 educators also set to be trained.