The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) completed the final phase of its Girls’ STEM Project appraisal in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana on September 29, 2025.
The exercise formed part of the end-of-project evaluation to assess the impact and sustainability of the initiative, which began in 2022 but was rolled out this year 2025.
The KOICA Monitoring team visited selected schools in the Eastern Region to observe Professional Learning Community (PLC) sessions, how the after-school sessions are conducted and interacted with directors, teachers, and students.
The delegation led by Professor Moon, from South Korea paid courtesy calls on key regional education officials, including the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Dr. Mrs. Ivy Asantewa Owusu, the Regional Head of HRMD, Ms. Ellen Sarquah, the Regional STEM Coordinator, Mrs. Louisa Amanor, and the Regional Deputy PRO, Mr. Felix Kwame Asare, as part of their evaluation process.
In her remarks, Dr. Owusu expressed deep appreciation to KOICA for its continued investment in Ghana’s education system, emphasizing that the project had significantly transformed attitudes toward STEM learning, particularly among female students.
“Previously, when we talked about STEM education, girls especially were afraid of the study of mathematics and science,” she said.
“But through KOICA, our girls are now confident. They are no longer afraid to study these subjects, and for that, we are truly grateful.”
This project is being implemented in 10 beneficiary districts within the Central and Eastern regions and seeks to encourage female participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses with the aim of promoting STEM education among girls and to build teachers’ capacity to deliver effective and engaging STEM lessons.
Since its inception, the Girls’ STEM Project has covered all 39 schools in the municipality. Over 125 mathematics and science teachers have undergone three-day capacity-building workshops.
Teachers also visit six TLCs per term where they learn effective teaching strategies from their peers, and students participate in after-school remediation classes to reinforce their understanding of main ideas they may have missed.
The Municipality Education Director, Mrs. Ajawude, was satisfied with the outcomes of the project, describing the students and teachers having embraced new and interactive ways of learning. She also observed the direct involvement of parents through the Parent Teachers association (PTA) meetings, further solidifying community support for girls’ education.
A number of PTA leaders expressed their sincere appreciation to KOICA for the impact their project has brought into the lives of the children and their community.
KOICA officials noted that lessons from this final evaluation will inform the second phase of the project, which is expected to reach over 800 schools nationwide. Currently the project covers two regions the Eastern and Central Region of Ghana.
“We are so happy to see the actual beneficial results of our project,” said Professor Moon. “This evaluation allows us to draw valuable lessons that will guide our follow-up project as we continue to support STEM education in Ghana.”
The assessment marks a significant milestone in KOICA’s efforts to bridge the gender gap in STEM education and to empower girls with the knowledge and confidence to pursue careers in STEM.
