More emphasis needed on science and technology – Legal Practitioner
Mr Samson Lardy Anyenini, a private legal practitioner, has called on government to pay attention to science and technology by funding and motivating teachers in the sector.
He said a special focus on science and technology education would give the region more than the expected benefits.
The lawyer, who also doubles as a broadcast journalist, was speaking at the Quadrennial Regional Conference of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in Bolgatanga.
The event was held on the theme: “Transforming Societies through Education: The Relevance of Science and Technology Education towards Agenda 2030 in the Upper East Region.”
Mr Anyenini said if science teachers were encouraged and motivated to dedicate themselves to teaching the subject, the region would be revolutionized in a couple of decades.
“It is a fact, truly anchored by statistics of how other nations have done it, what has been lacking is dedication to science and technology education. If Vea and Tono dams alone in the region employ 6,000 small scale farmers, the question is where does their produce end?”
He said even though the region had 37 Senior High Schools, none was dedicated to science and technology and this is the beginning failure in that regard.
Mr Afelibiek Ababu, the Upper East Regional Chairman of GNAT, said the theme for the event was carefully selected to reflect the needs of the region since Science and Technology education was necessary for development.
He said the conference was aimed at reviewing activities carried out by its members in the past four years, elect Regional Executive Committee Members and to craft strategies that would catapult the Association to higher and better heights.
He urged delegates to accurately relay the message to members at the grassroots level.
Mr Ababu said though the region had limited resources, GNAT had chalked some successes over the years including the completion of a hall complex, drilling and mechanization of a bore-hole and ensuring an effective collaboration with key stakeholders amongst others.
He appealed to stakeholders in the sector to support the region to put up a befitting hostel to complement the new hall complex.
Madam Philippa Larsen, the Acting National President of GNAT, congratulated delegates for the conference, and urged that “going forward, we try to think outside the box in order to craft new strategies, innovations, systems and processes that will help catapult this great Association onto the higher level that we all desire to see.”
Mr Rockson Bukari, the Upper East Regional Minister, said government was committed to promoting Science and Technology education through the provision of Science laboratories and equipment to produce the needed man power to pursue the industrialisation agenda.
“As we continue attracting massive inward foreign direct investment, because of our oil find, we need to get ready by getting the professionals in the field of science to take up that challenge to help change the face of Ghana,” he said.
Source: GNA