Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has announced the construction of Accra Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy to focus on STEM education from kindergarten to the senior high school level.
The project, which is expected to be completed in December, will admit students by January 2024, and the expectation is that students of the Academy would have a different experience of education.
The Minister also spoke about the establishment of model STEM Junior High Schools indicating that the first one is under construction at Asem in Kumasi with funding from the Arab Development Bank.
Again, plans are underway to build similar schools at Bantama, Juaben and Onwe also in Kumasi, adding that, all the schools would be equipped with physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, computer labs and well-equipped libraries.
Giving further insight on the progress made in the implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, in Kumasi, Dr. Adutwum explained that the new STEM JHS concept would promote efficiency and cut costs if scaled up across the country and argued that with the introduction of the model, STEM schools pupils in other local schools could be absorbed, hence allowances paid to the school heads could be saved.
He said there are about 13, 000 JHS across the country and the number can be reduced to about 3, 500 nationwide if the model STEM schools concept is successfully implemented.
Dr. Adutwum promised to pursue that policy by seeking Cabinet’s approval to inject efficiency and innovation into Ghana’s educational system.
