Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 16, GNA - Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister on Friday called for the promotion of science and technology in educational institutions for the acquisition of requisite knowledge for sustainable development.
He said the adoption of science and technology as the basis for achieving sustainable development must be accorded paramount importance to help raise the living standard of the people.
Mr. Baffour-Awuah was addressing a durbar in Sunyani to climax a six-day regional Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) clinic.
The clinic, on the theme, "STMEs, the engine of growth of the nation", attracted 475 participants of 272 girls and 100 boys from selected basic level educational institutions and 103 girls from second cycle institutions in the region.
Mr. Baffour-Awuah explained that government placed a high premium on the development of science and technology in its agenda and it was incumbent on all citizens to acquire some level of scientific literacy to understand and act responsibly in daily life.
He underscored the importance for all stakeholders, particularly those in the private sector, to complement government's efforts to advance science and technology.
Mr. Baffour-Awuah emphasised government's commitment and preparedness to offer greater support and assistance to individual science students and entreated tertiary institutions to increase the admission of science students.
As a measure to assist science teachers in their teaching career, the Regional Minister said training programmes had been proposed for regional resource personnel in science, mathematics, agricultural and technical skills to equip them with innovative teaching and learning methods.
Mr. Ohemeng Frimpong, Regional Coordinator of STME stressed that educational investment was a most important contributory factor to the socio-economic growth of a country.
He reiterated the need to offer regular in-service training on project development for science teachers, especially in the use of local raw materials for the preparation of projects.
Mr. Frimpong commended the District Assemblies that supported the programme with more than 13 million cedis each.
Mrs. Mary Adjapong, Dean of Student's affairs at Sunyani Polytechnic who was the guest speaker noted that the incredible gains chalked by some countries were as a result of the importance they placed on science and technology.
She said inappropriate application of science and technology was retarding the socio-economic growth of Ghana and it was imperative to make STMEs relevant and appreciable to accelerate national development. Mrs. Adjapong however stressed the need to raise the level of scientific literacy by educating the educators of science and technology in the modern trend.
