GHANA’S AMBITIOUS DRIVE TO DOUBLE SCIENCE STUDENTS BY 2024 WITH THE AID OF STEM: POSSIBLE OR NOT?

KWAME ACHEAMPONG

In a visionary move, the President of Ghana has revealed that because of STEM there is going to be a double rise in the number of science students across the nation by the year 2024 at the 85th anniversary celebration of Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC) in Legon, Ghana.

This revelation that STEM will double the count of science students in Ghana by 2024 has sent ripples of optimism throughout the nation especially amongst education enthusiast. Some are of the believe that it would not be 100% possible since beneath the surface lies a tapestry of critical concerns that demand thoughtful consideration while others are also of the view that it will be possible since most students from the junior sector of education in Ghana are eager to learn more about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics hence will merit double the number of science students in our Senior High Schools now.

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Students’ curiosity, creativity, discussion, and critical thinking are stimulated by this kind of teaching. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is a way to improve and complete the package of STEM, allowing students to connect their learning in these crucial areas with the principles, elements, and standards in STEM to give them the full range of learning options.

STEM has a lot to offer Ghana as a country in development just as it has offered to countries like North Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and the likes we term as elite countries. It holds the promise to make Ghana a better place.

It is believed that here in Ghana there are seven operational STEM schools with 2,400 students enrolled in General Science and STEM programs across seven schools so if we are talking of a double rise then we are targeting about 4,800 students enrolling in science in our senior high schools here in Ghana by the year 2024.

As a developing country, the government have made arrangement for this revelation to come true by creating a STEM Pipeline thus, it has launched initiatives to increase STEM education in Ghana. It has also started establishing STEM Model schools with four new STEM Model Schools functioning and three existing schools being converted into STEM Model Schools. These institutions will provide specialized education and facilities to nurture STEM talent.

Also, to create a comprehensive STEM pipeline from primary through Junior High School (JHS) to Senior High School (SHS), the government is completing the construction of ten regional STEM centers. These centers will play a crucial role in shaping the future of STEM education in Ghana.

The educational system includes elementary schools and junior high schools that follow a model and are prepared to provide STEM programs. For youngsters that are interested in pursuing science and technology from an early age, this change will create a solid basis. The government through the educational sector is retooling science laboratories, including one hundred and eighty (180) selected Senior High Schools and it is with this some education enthusiast believe that due to STEM education, there is going to be a double increase in the number of students pursuing science at the Senior High School level.

They are also of the believe that STEM is vital in addressing global challenges of which Ghana is of no exemption. As Junior High School graduates become increasingly aware of these issues they may be inspired to contribute to solutions, leading them to choose science as their course of study at the Senior High School level.

Also, they believe that STEM fields offer a wide range of career opportunities and as students become aware of the diverse and promising career paths in STEM they may be more inclined to pursue science at the senior high school level hence leading to a double rise in the number of students in the number of students who will be pursing science at the SHS because there is this analogy believed by many that every child wants to work in a lucrative field in the future.

With all these, they believe its possible for the revelation of the president that there is going to be a double rise in the number of science students in the SHS by 2024.

However, beneath the surface lies a tapestry of critical concerns of people who think this revelation may not be relevant to consider due a lot of factors that demand thoughtful consideration.

The president revealed that by 2024 there is going to be a double rise in the number of science students at the SHS level thus two times the number of what we have now just as we were made aware but some individuals believe its just mere talk by the president.

Some are of the view that the year 2024 is just 2 months and some days away from now and that it is not enough time for one to consider a double rise in the number of students pursing science at the SHS. This is because within a span of about 10 years the students who are pursing science are considered to be about 2,400 with only 7 STEM centers accommodating them together with the SHS schools offering general science we have now.

So, what is it that will cause students of about 4,800 to decide to pursue science by the year 2024?

Some are of the believe that STEM may not be the driving force to get students pursue science at the SHS it may be something else. There many narratives where students make it known that they read their course of student in SHS due to so many factors no just one.

Also, they believe that STEM education can sometimes be seen as exclusive with limited access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The cost of resources, specialized equipment, and private tutoring can create educational disparities deterring the minority from wanting to pursue science in the SHS.

One may ask that in areas of the country where they do not have enough access to basic educational needs and that they may not be exposed to STEM at an early age, how are they going to decide to pursue science at the SHS? As we all know, these places are places with individuals of poor economic background.

The question here now is, “Can the government provide all that is needed within this short while to support STEM which will in turn increase the number of students by double in 2024?”

It is believed that intense focus on STEM subjects may lead to a narrowing of interests, potentially limiting students’ exposure to other valuable disciplines and preventing them from exploring a broader range of career options hence students who want to explore a broad range of career options will decide not to pursue science.

Also, the thoroughness of STEM subjects can lead to academic pressure and stress, potentially causing burnout and discouraging some students from pursuing science. That is what has deterred many from pursuing general science at the SHS.

Even without the introduction of STEM, many BECE graduates did not want to pursue science at the SHS due to the fear for some subjects like mathematics popularly known as every one’s enemy which is deemed stressful when learning. For all we know, STEM does is not going to bring anything different on board apart from its practical nature which even adds more stress.

As we all know, no man wants stress.

Some also believe that, as a country we lack adequate teachers with vested experience in the field of STEM. Students are believed to pursue certain courses due to the influence of some teachers so if they find out that the teachers are not adequate in enough to train them, they would not pursue the course. And again, the president revealed that the increase will be double due to STEM but one may also ask will the there be adequate teachers to accommodate this rise? Or enough teachers will be trained adequately within a span of about 2 months and some days to meet up with the pressure ahead?

On a personal note, I commend the efforts the government through the Ghana Education Service to promote STEM education which in turn will lead to a rise in the number of students pursuing science in Ghana but I am of the believe that we should not rush in believing that the STEM will double increase the number of science student in SHS in Ghana overnight since it has its shortcomings which also deter students from pursuing science at the SHS level.

Rather, we should sit down and work around the clock on these shortcomings gradually for an adequate period of time in turn the number of students who want to science will increase over time instead of making revelations that it will double increase overtime when we are not ready enough because all justifications about STEM in Ghana now seem to be relevant for about some vast years to come.

Kwame Acheampong@ahotoronline.com