STEM Education Reports Submitted to Education Ministry

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STEM education reports submitted to Education Ministry. The aim of the reports is to help establish needed foundation for the study and promotion of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education at the Junior High School (JHS) level.

The two reports submitted were the “Practical STEM education in Ghana, barriers and opportunity” and “GSTEP design and implementation report” .

DreamOval Foundation-Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Prize (GSTEP) presented the reports which are expected to lead the game-changing approach toward transforming the education sector in Ghana

Issues such as overcrowding in classrooms, the absence of the requisite teaching and learning materials and the lack of practical lessons continue to be the stumbling block in Ghama.

According to the Coordinator of GSTEP, Francis Ahene-Affoh, the detailed reports would support the government’s effort at implementing STEM education through practical learning processes, saying: “In these reports, we have compiled ideas and solutions that will drive the stem agenda among young people.”

The Education Minister has indicated that the vision of the government is to make Ghana a leader in STEM education in Africa. STEM centres are under construction in some Senior High Schools and the missing link of lack of structured programmes in schools to create stem pipelines is also been developed. The Minister added that the government was creating a structured environment in the construction of stem schools, especially for girls to learn biomedical sciences, aviation, and engineering, among others. Th STEM initiative which is targeting JHS students will also be implemented at the Senior High School level according to the Minister.

“We will not take the second spot to any country because in this Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is STEM education that will lead to the transformation that has eluded us for many years,” he said.

Aside from the reports, there will also be a challenge to test the creativity of students, called the GSTEP Challenge. According to the Director of International Development of Nesta Challenges, organisers of the programme, Constance Agyeman, they had already received entries for the challenge in architecture from some students. Under the challenge, she said, high schools would be put in groups of four to six and tasked to work and find solutions to issues identified in communities.

She said 25 groups would be selected from the Greater Accra and the Ashanti regions and mentored and coached by industry professionals, who would also guide them on how to put their ideas into prototypes. The students would be expected to use their stem and technical skills to develop products to demonstrate their ability to create, innovate and develop business plans. The programme is to enable them to build on their entrepreneurial skills at their early ages, with finalists being declared in December this yea

 

5 Reasons STEM Education in Africa is the Best Thing for Africa

The science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education sector in Sub-Saharan Africa is growing at a fast pace. With the rise in digitalization and mobile penetration, more young people are able to access quality educational resources at an early age. Furthermore, with the adoption of disruptive education models and new learning techniques by African institutions, STEM education is showing great promise for transforming the continent for good. In this article we will explore why STEM education in Africa is one of the best things that can happen to our country. We will also look at some of the challenges that exist and how these can be addressed moving forward.

Developing Talent for Africa’s Future

STEM education has the potential to develop the talents of African youth. The best way to create a better future for Africa is to invest in the talents of her people. STEM education helps to develop critical thinking skills and encourages creativity by enabling young people to explore multiple options and achieve success through their own ideas. Students who are more likely to succeed in the future are those who can identify problems, think creatively about solutions and communicate their ideas effectively. STEM education also encourages young Africans to think globally, since both industry and academia are becoming increasingly digital.

Develop Industrial and Commercial Applications

Engineering and science skills are also in high demand in African economies. Enterprises are increasingly looking to Africa to fill the skills gap in their workforce, and STEM education can help to meet this demand. In countries like South Africa and Nigeria, demand for engineers is increasing at a rapid pace. There are now almost two-million engineering jobs in South Africa alone that will be open to qualified professionals. This means that the demand for engineers is increasing at a much faster rate than the supply. When this happens, salaries for engineers also rise. In Nigeria, the demand for engineers is also on the rise. There are now more than three-million job openings for engineers in Nigeria.

READ: 5 Powers of STEM Based Education and How They Will Shape the Future

Improve Lives of Young People and Help Communities Grow

STEM education can have a positive impact on the lives of young people in Africa, improving the health and well being of young people is critical to prevent the spread of disease, improve economic opportunities and help communities grow. In many countries, including South Africa and Nigeria, the prevalence of HIV has declined due to the increased access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) due to a greater focus on the healthcare system. Health education is increasingly being incorporated into STEM curricula to promote these positive outcomes. STEM education can also be used to encourage community growth and development. For example, engineering skills can be used to build stronger communities in urban areas, where informal settlements are a significant problem. Engineering can be used to create better sanitation systems that prevent water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and cholera. Other areas where engineering can be used to improve community growth are in the areas of infrastructure and energy. In the area of infrastructure, engineering skills can be used to build better roads and bridges that can withstand the stresses of heavy rain and strong winds. Energy can be used to create a cleaner and more reliable source of energy that can be used to power lighter vehicles such as bicycles and scooters.

Improve African Institutions by Installing Digital Systems

The need for STEM education in Africa is also driven by the drive for digital transformation. In recent years, African governments have placed a greater focus on improving access to broadband Internet connections and rolling out 4G/5G networks for mobile connectivity. With this infrastructure in place, it is easy for educational institutions to implement digital systems that allow students to access quality resources from anywhere, anytime. The implementation of digital systems will also allow for more effective and timely delivery of education, improving the quality of learning outcomes. The transition to digital systems is not easy and requires significant investment. However, the return on this investment will be huge in the form of increased access to quality education, improved learning outcomes and reduced costs. The best way to implement digital systems is to partner with local institutions, since they are best placed to identify the needs of their communities.

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Conclusion

STEM education has a lot of potential for developing the talents of young Africans and improving the lives of citizens in the modern economy. However, to fully reach these goals, STEM education needs to be implemented in African institutions. The drive for digital transformation has led to significant investment in broadband infrastructure and the rollout of 4G/5GS networks. These investments need to be leveraged to implement digital systems in educational institutions, where they will have the greatest impact.