Science should be practical-oriented - Eric Opoku
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, has stressed the need to re-focus the teaching of science on practical application instead of on theoretical education to solve national problems.
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Speaking at the opening of a five-day conference for the Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST), at the Anglican Senior High School in Kumasi, he pledged that the government would not relent on its effort at improving the teaching and learning of science at all levels,in recognition of the important role science and technology played in national development.
He added that the government’s primary area of focus was to embark on policy initiatives to strengthen educational institutions to produce the right calibre of youth as security for the future development of the nation.
The conference, which takes place every year, brings together science teachers and laboratory technicians in pre-tertiary institutions in the country to share ideas and broaden their knowledge to enhance their operations.
This year’s conference, which is the 55th edition, is being attended by over 600 participants and has the theme; “Innovation in Science and Technology Education: A tool for Garbage Management”.
Mr Opoku commended the national executives and members of GAST for successfully coming out with the annual conference to discuss science and technology education in the country.
He said the theme for the conference was timely and very significant considering the challenges confronting the nation in the management of garbage and other waste materials, adding that the development of science and technology was crucial to development as it helped to create wealth, create jobs and solve national problems.
Mr Opoku said waste management was a major challenge for many developing countries in the world, and pointed out that the extent to which it was properly and effectively managed would go a long way to impact on the socio-economic conditions of the people, adding that countries such as South Korea, Japan and China were making progress because of their scientific and technological prowess, which had led to increased output of exports.
The Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor William Ottoo Ellis, who was the guest speaker, said since science and technology education played very important role in the development of every nation, there was the need for it to give it the needed support to enhance its learning to support the nation’s development.
He challenged the teachers to adopt innovations in the methodologies in the teaching of science and technology to impact positively on the students and society as a whole.
The National President of GAST, Mr Henry K. Arthur-Gyan, in his address, said the major challenge confronting the association was funding and called for support to enable members to do more to equip teachers and technicians to impart knowledge to their students in a positive manner.
By Felix A. Baidoo/Daily Graphic/Ghana
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, has stressed the need to re-focus the teaching of science on practical application instead of on theoretical education to solve national problems.
Speaking at the opening of a five-day conference for the Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST), at the Anglican Senior High School in Kumasi, he pledged that the government would not relent on its effort at improving the teaching and learning of science at all levels,in recognition of the important role science and technology played in national development.
He added that the government’s primary area of focus was to embark on policy initiatives to strengthen educational institutions to produce the right calibre of youth as security for the future development of the nation.
The conference, which takes place every year, brings together science teachers and laboratory technicians in pre-tertiary institutions in the country to share ideas and broaden their knowledge to enhance their operations.
This year’s conference, which is the 55th edition, is being attended by over 600 participants and has the theme; “Innovation in Science and Technology Education: A tool for Garbage Management”.
Mr Opoku commended the national executives and members of GAST for successfully coming out with the annual conference to discuss science and technology education in the country.
He said the theme for the conference was timely and very significant considering the challenges confronting the nation in the management of garbage and other waste materials, adding that the development of science and technology was crucial to development as it helped to create wealth, create jobs and solve national problems.
Mr Opoku said waste management was a major challenge for many developing countries in the world, and pointed out that the extent to which it was properly and effectively managed would go a long way to impact on the socio-economic conditions of the people, adding that countries such as South Korea, Japan and China were making progress because of their scientific and technological prowess, which had led to increased output of exports.
The Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor William Ottoo Ellis, who was the guest speaker, said since science and technology education played very important role in the development of every nation, there was the need for it to give it the needed support to enhance its learning to support the nation’s development.
He challenged the teachers to adopt innovations in the methodologies in the teaching of science and technology to impact positively on the students and society as a whole.
The National President of GAST, Mr Henry K. Arthur-Gyan, in his address, said the major challenge confronting the association was funding and called for support to enable members to do more to equip teachers and technicians to impart knowledge to their students in a positive manner.
By Felix A. Baidoo/Daily Graphic/Ghana