Shatter image of science as intimidating force, educationist advised

Koforidua, Sept. 2, GNA - The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Ewurabena Ahwoi, has said, it was time that Ghana began to shatter the "intimidating and mysterious" image science continued to wield over her people, so as to tap the "infinite wonders of nature" to serve the material needs of the people.

She said, whereas the ultimate aim of science was to provide solutions to problems over the ages, however, science had been presented as a "preserve of highly intellectually-endowed people in a mysterious way".

This state of affairs she stated, had stifled efforts aimed at hastening the nation's development, since science, which was key to unlocking and understanding nature's processes for the benefit of mankind, was still being presented in less practical ways. Mrs Ahwoi made this observation in a speech read on her behalf at the on-going Science, Technology and Mathematics (STME) clinic for 320 basic and second cycle students of the New Juaben Municipality and the Kwahu North District at Koforidua on Thursday.

Instituted in 1987 to bridge the gap between boys and girls opting for the physical sciences, the clinics are now a conduit for providing participants with rudimentary skills in science and technology, so as to arouse their interest in the study of the sciences at higher educational levels.

Science subjects, Mrs Ahwoi emphasized, must be taught in ways that would make the students realize the problems around them, so as to find scientific answers to them.

Mrs Ahwoi also stressed the urgency for considerable improvement in the number and method of science teacher training colleges to arrest the situation, as well as an increased interface between society and science.

Nana Kwasi Adjei Boateng, New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, collaborated the views of Mrs Ahwoi, saying, there was the need to place science as a priority on the national agenda. This, the MCE posited, was necessary in view of the plethora of health and other related developmental difficulties facing the nation, especially in view of the realization that, most of the problems could be resolved, when science is applied.

Nana Adjei Boateng also tasked the nation's scientists to develop simple but effective ways that would help in the industrial take-off of the country.

The New Juaben Municipal Assembly and the Kwahu North District Assembly are jointly sponsoring the one-week clinic at a cost of 65 million cedis.