As part of efforts to enhance the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) government has completed and opened 7 new model STEM Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.
Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adwutwum who made this known at a Meet the Press session put together by the Ministry of Information on Sunday, January 30, 2022, said the idea of introducing STEM into our 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 said.
The 7 new STEM schools include the Abomosu STEM School, Kpasenkpe STEM School, Awaso STEM School, Bosomtwe Girls STEM School at Deduako and STEM Center at Accra Senior High School.
This, the Minister said, the completion of the new STEM model schools will equip students with the 21st century skills to effectively participate in the fourth industrial revolution.
Operationalization of E-blocks
The Minister also disclosed as part of his presentation that government has operationalized 4 E-blocks to improve the standard of second cycle education in the country. This brings to 21 all E-blocks operationalized by government vis-à-vis the 23 earmarked for completion under the current administration.
He mentioned some of the projects to 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.
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.
According to him, government has invested so much in the education sector, particularly the free SHS and is bent on adopting practical measures to address any challenges that confronted the implementation of the policy and ensure students have the best of education.
