Ghana, Korea agree to increase female participation in STEM
The Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Ministry of Education have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to commence a project that seeks to encourage female participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses in Accra last Friday.
The project is dubbed: “Promotion of girls’ competency in math and science with gender-responsive pedagogy”.
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According to the Country Director of KOICA, Mr Moo Heon Kong, the $8,000,000 grant project would be implemented in the Central and Eastern regions, specifically in 10 beneficiary districts.
He named the districts as the New Juaben South, Akwapim South, Birim Central, Upper Manya Krobo and Abuakwa North (part of East Akim) for the Eastern Region. In the Central Region, it will cover Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Cape Coast, Gomoa East and Agona East.
“Through the project, we look to support the development of a multifaceted capacity building and training programme for mathematics and science teachers, school management and education supervisors in the target districts”, he said.
He added that to achieve the best outcomes, “it is crucial to have a concerted effort from the entire education system in addition to parents, and other members of the various communities under this project”.
The project
The Government of the Republic of Korea approved the project in 2020 and it will end in 2024.
“Promotion of girls’ competency in Math and Science with gender-responsive pedagogy” has an overall objective of increasing women’s participation in STEM courses through enhanced opportunities for girls in math and science education.
Effective pedagogy
Key beneficiaries will be girls in basic schools of the selected districts that constitute the project’s scope.
The Ministry of Education will lead the implementation of the project.
KOICA, through this project, seeks to promote a more effective pedagogy in Math and Science that will strengthen the education system and provide a girl-friendly school environment geared towards tackling the socio-cultural factors creating a negative perception towards girls’ education, especially in STEM.
A component of the project will also develop and train teachers in locally adaptable teaching and learning materials (TLMs) for Math and Science, gender-responsive pedagogy and math/science teaching competency while providing girls with in-and after-school opportunities for the enhancement of math and science academic competency.
This will be achieved in addition to strengthening the education sector system accountability, community advocacy and other gender-sensitive GES initiatives.
KOICA’s commitment
Mr Kong gave an assurance of KOICA’s commitment to the growth of Ghana’s education sector through equipping of young people, especially girls, with the requisite skills, knowledge and capacity for meaningful contribution to the nation’s future workforce.
For his part, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum lauded the agency for its contributions towards the socio-economic development of the country.
He expressed the hope that the project would create a more robust educational system in Ghana.