President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the government is committed to making science, technology, engineering and Mathematics, (STEM), education a key objective to improving quality education in the country to ensure students become globally competitive.
President Akufo-Addo said this when he was speaking at a sod cutting ceremony for the construction of a science, technology, engineering and Mathematics senior high school in Accra.
“I ma delighted that the school, dedicated principally to the teaching and learning of science ,technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is being built under the presidency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I thank all stakeholders especially my erudite Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe , the Honourable Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum with the conception of this brilliant idea,” he said.
The President later wrote on his Facebook page that “On Wednesday, 12th January 2022, I cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the Accra STEM Academy, a school, dedicated, principally, to the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
“Within the next twenty-four (24) months, God willing, the Accra STEM Academy will be completed from kindergarten to high school, with an expected population of some two thousand (2,000) students.
“This Academy will have a number of state-of-the-art facilities, including a four-storey classroom block, science laboratories, a sickbay, administrative area, staff common room, library, washrooms, canteen, and a one thousand, five hundred (1,500) capacity multi-purpose hall.
“The Accra STEM Academy, being constructed at a cost of thirty-two million cedis (GH¢32 million), will equip learners from kindergarten to senior high school with 21st century skills in problem solving, creativity, communication, collaboration, data literacy, digital literacy, and computer science.
“In addition, the Accra STEM Academy will be a place where learners in junior high school will be provided with the options of learning basic engineering, manufacturing, and global studies to help them make informed decisions on their preferred programmes of choice at senior high school level.”
President Akufo-Addo said there is the need to reorient the country’s educational system to equip students to succeed in the 21st century.
The 32 million cedi educational facility when completed, will be fully inclusive, giving access to persons with disability to acquire skills and improve their livelihoods.
These skills include critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, data literacy and digital literacy and computer science drawn from broad pillars of fundamental literacies and competencies.
Minister for education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said Ghana is geared towards achieving a more robust educational system will require the integration of relevant academic content with experiences that nurture the skills and mindsets needed for socio-economic transformation.
Some 35 of such schools are expected to be constructed across the country including five universities. The school facility is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana