Ghanaian teachers have been encouraged to see STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as an essential subject area that can help uncover students’ untapped talent and potentials rather than labelling it as a burden.
By shifting focus and perspective on STEM, educators are admonished to be fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their students and also encouraging creativity and the innovative spark in them.
Teachers by so doing are said to equally develop students’ analytical and logical reasoning abilities and also prepare them for careers in emerging fields. Thereby, creating a supportive learning environment that allows them to explore and reach their full potential also in other subjects.
Ms. Benedicta Ampofo, the STEM Coordinator for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District in the Central Region shared this at the maiden edition of the District’s STEM Exhibition Contest held at Abura-Dunkwa on Friday, June 27, 2025, on the theme “Fostering Innovation Through STEM Education: Empowering Solutions to Real World Challenges.”
The contest organized by the AAK Education Directorate, under the auspices of the District’s STEM Directorate in partnership with Molex Foundation Africa, having pulled chiefs and astute brains from the field of education and science, saw 24 basic schools from the District’s 93 basic schools participate to exhibit their prowess in STEM through innovative inventions.
The AAK STEM Coordinator further appealed on teachers not to write students down on STEM, but rather nurture and motivate them reach their potential and should also discard the notion that STEM is a burden but understand it’s a learning process for students to improve on their talent, hence the need to get involved.
The Central Regional STEM Coordinator, Mr. Richard Arthur Panyin, in an interaction with Sompa TV’s Eric Annan appealed on government to have enough STEM facilities established in the region, having highlighted unavailability of STEM equipment’s, resources and infrastructural challenges kettle the enhancement of STEM education in the Central Region.
He again beseeched parents to have their children get enough interest in STEM-based programs in other to help shape their future and also aid the country find lasting solutions to most of its issues bothering unemployment, engineering, sanitation, among others as done by European and Asian countries.
Mary Arthur of New Ebu St. Simons Catholic Basic School, who emerged winners of the competition and will represent the District at the Regional STEM Competition this year, together with her teacher, expressed excitement and assured to make the AAK District proud, but solicited help from their MP, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, stakeholders, DCE, government officials and the Education Directorate since they face a number of challenges.
