Daboase(W/R), Aug. 29, GNA - Mrs Rebecca E. Dadzie, Western Regional Director of Education, on Monday said many girls and women had out of fear, shyness and social stigmatisation avoided the sciences, political and social leadership in the country. She noted that such attitudes had negatively affected women's involvement in all sectors of the economy.
Mrs Dadzie was addressing the closing session of a five-day Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) clinic for 43 girls and 18 boys drawn from eight circuits within Mpohor Wassa East District at Daboase.
The theme for the clinic was "STME, the Engine for Growth of the Nation".
Mrs Dadzie explained that the STME clinics, which started in 1987, were to unearth talents and motivate more girls to pursue science and other technology related subjects. She said it was important for Ghanaians to acquire some scientific knowledge to enable them use such skills to transform the country's economy.
Mrs Dadzie regretted that despite the abundance of bamboo in the district no scientific effort had been made to utilise them into durable building and household materials. "The continual dependence on timber and other wood species for construction and furniture purposes could be replaced with bamboo," she stressed.
Mrs Dadzie expressed concern about the inability of Ghanaians to utilise the abundant rich natural resources, for the people who continued to live in abject poverty due to the lack of scientifically based technology.
Mrs Gifty Asiedu, Mpohor Wassa East District Director of Education said there was the need to create an enabling environment at the basic school level to help young children shape their talents and skills in science and technology for the future. She said the country must have a well-developed science and technology policy to enable the country produce more scientists on a regular basis and for the rapid development of the country. Mrs Asiedu expressed concern about the inability of most of the participants at STME clinics in the past especially the girls to pursue science as a course.
"This attitude must change and this could be achieved when parents assisted their wards to develop their scientific interests," she added. Mrs Asiedu noted that discipline was the only attitude that could assist them to achieve their dreams in the sciences. She urged the participants to feel free and make enquiries about the subjects being taught and not be daunted by the discouraging responses they might receive.
Dr Elizabeth Amoah, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon noted that girls could pursue the sciences irrespective of where they were born, lived and had education.
She said the STME were part of their daily life therefore; there was no need to feel intimidated or shy. Mr. Emmanuel Cudjoe, the STME Coordinator said the clinic was to rekindle the interest of girls in the sciences. He appealed to Girl's Educational Coordinators to liase with organisers of the clinics to enable them have more girls participating in future clinics. Ms. Theresa Dickens, Western Regional Girl Child Coordinator advised the participants to respect the elderly, value their time and learn hard.
She said their success depended on their own goals and asked them to work to achieve them. Ms. Dickens told them that Science, Technology, Mathematics education was a prerequisite in technical and vocational education in the country.
Ms. Elizabeth Sagoe, Mpohor Wassa East Area Development Manager of World Vision Ghana appealed to the participants to be morally and spiritually upright. She noted that early sex; teenage pregnancy and the use of drugs could ruin their future and even lead to death. Ms. Sagoe therefore, asked the participants to be committed in their quest to achieve success.
