Ghana needs more teachers in ICT, Maths and Science

Accra, June 14, GNA - Ghana would continue to need the support of Peace Corps Volunteers in the teaching of mathematics, science and information communication technology (ICT) because those were critical areas that could help the country in its development agenda, Mr Michael Nsowah, Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, said on Tuesday.

He said science and mathematics had over the years been perceived as difficult subjects and many students had tried to dodge them. Mr Nsowah said this when he received 32 Peace Corps Volunteers from the United States of America on behalf of the Minister of Education, Paapa Owusu Ankomah.

They would teach science, mathematics, ICT and visual arts in secondary schools and at the basic level in all regions except the Greater Accra Region.

He said the Government's new education policy placed emphasis on mathematics and science and urged the Volunteers to make mathematics friendlier so as to help to remove the phobia from the students. Mr Nsowah said although enrolment in science in the universities should be 60 per cent and 40 per cent for the other subjects, it was currently only 35 per cent.

He said Peace Corps Volunteers had helped the country tremendously for many years and pledged that the Ministry and GES would support them. Ms Lydia Osei, Deputy Director-General, Management Services, urged them to be dedicated and committed to their work.

He said they should not try to compare America to Ghana because certain equipment would be lacking in the schools and in such circumstances they should try to improvise. Ms Madeleine Mader, Country Director of the Peace Corps Volunteers, said the institution would mark its 45th anniversary in August 2006.