Science and Technology Education, cutting edge of economic growth - Dr. Chambas

Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, United Nations Representative for West Africa, has observed that Science and Technology Education, was the cutting edge of economic growth and development of sub-Saharan Africa.

He pointed out that countries that were making greater development were doing so as a result of an indispensable increase in science and technology education

Dr Chambas made the observation at the 138th Speech and Prize-Giving Day of Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, on the theme: “Developing knowledge based economy for Ghana, the role of Senior High Schools”.

Dr. Chambas, who is an old boy of the school, acknowledged that the world has shrunk into a global village where opportunities are shared at the peril of a common planetary neighborhood.

He noted that Education was the only known potent tool that unleashed real human potential, improved chances of employment and enhanced efficiency and productivity, but was unhappy that West Africa faced great challenges in access to quality education.

According to him, 63 million adolescents of lower secondary school age, were not in school in 2012, of which girls formed the majority.

Mr. J. Kweku Bedu-Addo, C.E.O of Standard Chartered, Ghana who was the guest speaker, expressed worry about the “chew-and-pour” practice of learning, which was very prevalent in senior high schools up to the tertiary level.

To him, education was supposed to improve knowledge, build personality and dignity, as well as empower one with good sense of judgment, adding that the “chew-and-pour” practice, did not help students to imbibe the core values of education.

The headmaster of the school, Mr. John Kwamina Ankomah, appealed to government and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the school to construct a more spacious assembly hall to accommodate the more than 3,000 students.

He said, as a result of the Computerized School Selection Placement System, the school’s population had gone up, leading to congestion at the dormitories, and that 18 more classrooms blocks would be needed.

Master Louis Owusu Banahene, the head prefect, lamented over inadequate desks in the classrooms which sometimes made students roam looking for chairs during classes hours, a situation he described as unacceptable.

The 1974 year group presented a cheque for 150,000 Ghana Cedis to the school to support the completion of a new 70-bed capacity infirmary.

The 1994 and 1964 year groups also presented GH¢150,000 and GH¢50,000 respectively, together with books and other learning materials.

They pledged to build a new basketball court for the school.