University science teachers to enjoy scholarships

Students reading science the universities, who express interest in teaching science at the basic and senior secondary school levels are to be given special incentives to attract and retain them in the teaching profession.

They are also to be given scholarships to pursue one year studies in Education and would be paid risk and other forms of allowances while a special fund from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET-Fund) would be set aside to support the increase intake of students offering science.

These were some of the measures the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service were taking to strengthen science teaching and learning in all schools.

To this effect 40 educational experts met at a day's meeting in Accra on Friday to discuss a draft proposal on "Science and Technology Policy on Education" and what strategies to adopt to implement thepolicies.

The proposals include creating enabling environment for writing science textbooks and supplementary readers, promote technical and vocational education training, promote science and technology innovations within the educational system and strengthening the inspectorate division of the educational sector in both human and material resources.

The experts are drawn from the Universities, Curriculum Development Division, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research UNESCO and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

Mr John Budu-Smith, Acting Director General of the GES, in a welcoming address said it was necessary for stakeholders to translate components of the National Science and Technology Policy into action.

He said the GES and the Ministry of Education had embarked on an important journey to equip and sustain sections of the National Science and Technology Policy to make Ghana a Science and Technology country.

"The use of Technology as a wheel for national development could not materialise if the needed foundational infrastructure for Ghana's development were not built through science and technology education".

Mr Budu-Smith emphasised the need to provide children with the needed education relevant to the needs and aspiration of society.

Mr Henry Ofori-Awuah, Deputy Director General of Education, remarked that the technological empowerment of the people should be tackled at the formal system of education in schools.

He said knowledge and technology had always been the basis of wealth creation activity and that a substantial science and technology capability was vital in eliminating illiteracy, disease and poverty.

Science and technology should be seen in the context of increasing complexity in the ability to manage technological change in the country for development, he said.