(Right) Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, Osu Mantse
The Osu Mantse, Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, has stressed the need to support the introduction of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Ghana to provide long-term practical expertise in solving problems and promoting technological advancement.
Placing a premium on STEM, he noted, will be instrumental in positioning the nation on a more fertile ground to churning out more engineers, software developers, mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and other related disciplines needed for the country’s growth and development.
He made the call during the official launch of STEM Innovation at Accra Technical Training Centre. The programme is on the importance of STEM in boosting the human resource capital of the nation.
Notse Owuo said that STEM education seeks to inculcate in young people analytical skills, thereby moving away from memorising notes just for examination purposes without basic understanding of concepts.
“It is also high time we get them acquainted with AI in order for them to be abreast of current educational trends aimed at leading the charge in STEM in every part of the world today,” he stated.
Job creation
Notse Owuo indicated that STEM will greatly assist the nation in her pursuit of creating more jobs for young people in an attempt to reduce the incessant social vices often linked to joblessness.
He noted that STEM gives quite a number of avenues for young people to get employed when they take their studies seriously, citing employment opportunities in engineering, information technology, and geology among others.
“We cannot afford to lag behind in terms of leveraging the prospects of technology to solve everyday issues that confront us as a nation. It is, therefore, imperative that we make STEM appealing to young people in our efforts to create jobs from this programme. That I believe will create that opportunity to absorb many youths who are unemployed,” he said.
Role of parents
He stressed the need for parents to encourage their children to take full advantage of STEM-related activities, noting “it will propel them to greater heights and create in them the unique characteristics needed to solve the 21st-century issues”.
He added that it is the duty of parents not to impose any specific discipline on their children if they so wish to take STEM to the next level. That, he indicated, will serve as an ingredient that will help young people appreciate the importance of STEM and, by extension, give them the passion to pursue it.
“I must say that the role of parents in ensuring the success of this programme is crucial. We shouldn’t in any way underestimate the power of encouragement on the part of parents in our quest to promote STEM. As parents, let us support our wards in this pursuit, and together, Ghana will become a hub of technological, industrial, and engineering disciplines across Africa. This is doable,” he stressed.
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