The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resource (UENR), Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, has said the university is poised to build a multipurpose Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Centre.
When completed, the center, according to Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, would carry out research and innovations of national and international interest to address the shortfall of scientists and engineers in the country. He therefore wants the government to assist them to put up the Centre.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th UENR STEM festival at the University’s campus in Sunyani.
The three-day STEM festival, involves about 2,300 learners from primary, junior, and senior high schools in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions, and brought together more than 8,000 learners since the University introduced it 5 years ago. Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako 19 exhibitors from the Departments of Chemical Science, Applied Biology, Horticulture and Crop Production, Computer Science, and Informatics, among others, are involved.
This year’s festival, under the theme, “The role of STEM Education in combating the COVID-19 pandemic: The way forward for Ghana,” is expected to continue to motivate students, while encouraging parents to support their children to cultivate their science gifts by pursuing a STEM education at the tertiary levels.
The VC of UENR, Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, said, “The centre would also organize short content-based training for teachers who handle science-related subjects in both JHS and SHS level”.
This, he believes, would provide for solid foundations in pupils who have the potential and wish to pursue STEM programmes in the University. Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako noted the Centre, in collaboration with other Departments, will build potential science students into finished products to assist in the growth of this country.
The venture, he explained, is in support of the government’s agenda for STEM education.
“If we are permitted by GTEC/NAB and the Ministry of Education, we would run degree courses in STEM programmes to support the promotion of STEM education in the erstwhile Brong Ahafo Region and the northern sector of the country”, he said.
He, however, said the assistance of the government, through the Ministry of Education, is needed in putting up the Multi-purpose STEM Centre to achieve the vision.
The VC further said such assistance would be a tap on their shoulders for what they are already doing to support STEM education, which in itself is an indication of what they would have accomplished if they had such a center. In a speech […]
