Govt to double support for science, technical education

Accra, August 21, GNA - Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education, Science and Sports on Tuesday expressed government's commitment to double efforts and investments in science and technical education to enable the country attain the desired middle-income status by 2015.

" Many strides are being made through the application of science and technology on the international scene and any country that does not rescue its citizens from the shackles of scientific illiteracy would definitely be left behind in development and exhibit features of severe under-development", he said.

Prof. Fobih was speaking at the opening of the National Science and Technology 2007 Fair in Accra organised by the Ministry to showcase scientific discoveries and projects developed by pre-tertiary students nationwide and draw public attention on science education. Speaking on theme: "Translating Basic Scientific And Technological Knowledge Into Action," the Minister stated that science teaching and learning should be seen as great investment that would provide the qualified workforce capable of utilising natural resources to address societal problems.

He said with the immerging innovations from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Universities and other scientific institutions, there was the need to mentor the youth to develop interest in the discipline. Prof. Fobih noted that although the New Education Reform Programme (ERP) addressed challenges that confronted science and technical education, there was the need for industrialists, businessmen and traditional rulers to support government to develop the discipline. He also urged industries to absorb students majoring in the area as interns so as to expose them to innovations that would enhance their skills.

The Minister further entreated students to undertake analytical study of indigenous scientific knowledge and infuse modern science into them to explore new fields and break grounds in research and development.

Mr Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) said the Fair was the evidence of efforts made by science teachers and students to translate basic science and technology knowledge into action by developing projects that expressed their understanding of science.

He said to support science and technology education, the GES through the ERP would promote science at the grassroots level through regular exhibitions and fairs in both rural and urban settings. The GES Director General said the initiative would also help popularise income-generating technologies and facilitate interaction between entrepreneurs and scientists.

He said the GES would also institute annual science and technology awards for innovations and best practices at the district and national levels and encourage innovations through a scheme to fund discoveries. Mr. Bannerman-Mensah mentioned insufficient number of qualified science teachers, limited number of science laboratories resourced with equipment and chemicals and inadequate science reference books as challenges confronting science education.

He commended the teachers for dedication and hard work and entreated them to continue to work hard as Government worked to improve their conditions of service.

Over 60 appliances and products locally manufactured by students were displayed at the fair to attract government and investor support to develop them for industrial use.

Some of the products were a solar reflector that uses solar energy to distil water, a solar cooker manufactured with carbon board and aluminium foil, a vegetable preservation chemical manufactured with brine and cement also made with dry cocoa pods.

Others include an engine boat, a telephone model, a biogas machine, hair and medicinal products, and solar panel for water heating.