‘Science, technology hold key to sustainable development’
A formal director of the Science, Technology and Mathematics Innovations Education (STMIE), Mrs Sophia Awotwi, has stated that the teaching and learning of science and technology hold the key to the progress and sustainable development of the country.
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She said the country was facing development challengess in the midst of plenty natural resources because “we have not promoted science and technology in all endeavours, especially in education”.
Mrs Awotwi stated this at the just-ended one week STMIE workshop in Kumasi for 680 junior high school students drawn from 24 districts in the Ashanti Region.
Innovative inventions
Some innovative inventions the students came out with included using plantain pith to generate electricity and mirror for solar water heater, among others.
Mrs Awotwi described science and technology education as the engine for accelerated development, hence the need for policy makers, educational instructors and parents to embrace it and ensure that more students were made to develop keen interest in learning the subject.
Sustainable development
She said through science and technology, the country could embark on sustainable development which would ensure the effective use of its natural resources and the environment in a manner that would accelerate the pace of development, without depleting the natural resources.
Mrs Awotwi added that with the efficient use of natural resources through science and technology, Ghana would move from exhausting resource use and destruction of the environment to the three Rs; Reducing the use of resources, Reuse what had been produced and Recycle.
Regional Coordinator
The Regional Coordinator of STMIE, Mr Gabriel Anti, explained that the STMIE was an initiative to get more students and pupils to study science and technology-based programmes so that at least 60 per cent of them would go ahead to offer such programmes at the tertiary level.
He noted that the programme also afforded the students hands-on and practical teaching and learning which demystified science and technology education, while at the same time the students had quality time with their teachers.
He added that the pupils were also taken through guidance and counselling and other issues relating to bad company and the need to lead a morally upright life and resort to hard work in all their endeavours.
