Government has completed six new model Senior High Schools (SHS) across Ghana as part of efforts to enhance the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the country. The new schools include the Abomosu STEM School, Kpasenkpe STEM School, Awaso STEM School, Bosomtwe Girls STEM School at Deduako, STEM Center at Accra Senior High School and TVET School at East Legon.
Minister for Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum announced this yesterday at the weekly Meet-the-Press sessions organised by the Ministry of Information.
He said the idea of introducing STEM into Ghana’s education system is to ensure the provision of quality and relevant education, and the production of the requisite graduates for the job market.
“If you have a high school system that focuses on only arts and humanities and you don’t look at computer science and programming, you don’t look at biomedical sciences and you don’t begin to look at engineering in high school system, something is wrong with the connection between teaching and what is expected of graduates in the industry,” he stated.
According to Dr Adutwum, the completion of the new STEM model schools will equip students with the 21st century skills to effectively participate in the fourth industrial revolution.
E-blocks operationalised
The Education Minister also disclosed that government has operationalised four more E-blocks to improve the standard of second cycle education in the country.
This brings to 21, all E-blocks operationalised by government vis-à-vis the 23 earmarked for completion under the current administration.
The operationalised schools, according to the Dr Adutwum, include the E-blocks located at Tambligu in the Upper East Region, Adabokrom in the Western North Region, Apesua in the Easter Region and Lashibi in the Greater Accra Region.
He said the completion of the blocks is expected to help resolve challenges confronting the implementation of the Free Senor High School policy primary due to lack of infrastructure.
Dr Adutwum said government has invested so much in the education sector, particularly the free SHS and stressed on adopting practical measures to address any challenges that confronted the implementation of the policy.
This will ensure students have the best of education in the country.