Deputy Minister of Education, Reverend Ntim Fordjour, has revealed the government is planning to change the ratio of students studying science and technology to those studying humanities.

He indicated the country has only twelve percent of the student population pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. 

He believes the new strategy would help facilitate national development.  

Speaking at the 4th Ghana Science Olympiad, the Deputy Minister indicated the government is putting in place tenable measures to have a 60:40 science to humanities students’ ratio. 

He says the curricula at the basic level was reformed to standard-based to initiate processes towards the attainment of a human resource with requisite skills for national development. 

“The Ministry is realigning strategies so the country would produce a critical mass with the requisite 21st century skills to address some of the rapid changes we are experiencing. 

“As part of our education strategic plan, we want to change the narrative of the science and humanities ratio from 40:60 to 60:40 respectively. 

“The country has just about 12% of students at the pre-tertiary level participating in STEM education, which has to be turned around.

“Very tenable investments and measures are being put in place to ensure that this transformation becomes a reality. 

“We live in a world that’s rapidly changing. We live in the fourth industrial revolution and every nation is striving to catch up to embrace digitalization and STEM education strategies. 

“Science education is a propeller of national development,” he said. 

The Ghana Science Olympiad was organized for students from Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP) and non-SEIP schools. 

The national contest tested students from various Senior High Schools on a scope of scientific skills and knowledge in Integrated Science and Core Mathematics.

The participating students were taken through practical scientific sessions to better grasp underlying theoretical scientific concepts. 

Director of Science Education Unit-Ghana Education Service, Mrs. Olivia Opare indicated the unit observed the country’s secondary educational system lacked adequate practical sessions, hence the need for the students to be exposed to practical aspects of sciences and mathematics. 

“Our main focus is to engage these little ones in practical science including Mathematics. 

“We realized that they lacked the practical aspects of the sciences so we gave them all the needed exposure. 

“They were then examined on the taught concepts,” she said. 

Emmanuel Fynn of Mpraeso SHS emerged as the overall best student at the just ended 4th Ghana Science Olympiad. 

He received a gold medal, laptop, plaque, certificate, some textbooks, amongst other souvenirs.

Some students shared their experiences and how beneficial the programme had been to them. 

Evans Onuensor of Goka SHs indicated he was exposed to the practical  scope of science. 

“I was particularly impressed with a question where we were asked to detect a fake cheque. I’ll apply this in daily life,” he said. 

Stephanie Papul of Apam SHS added “in school, we are only taught the theoretical aspect. But for this one, we plan investigations and apply our knowledge on what we’ve been taught”.