The teaching and learning of science and mathematics continue to be a challenge for both teachers and learners, most especially the “Girl child”
The lack of practical instruction, materials, and ineffective teaching techniques, leave learners with little understanding, and many become disinterested in pursuing the field further.
However, the importance of these areas in the development of every nation is fundamental.
And as part of efforts of promoting Girls’ competency in Science, Technology, and Mathematics at the Basic level of Education, the Korea International Cooperative Agency(KOICA), has partnered with Ghana Education Service, KEEA Municipal Education Directorate to organize a three-day residential workshop for mathematics and science facilitators from the KOICA Supported Schools in the municipality, under the KOICA Girls in Mathematics and Science Project.
The workshop was geared toward equipping Science and Mathematics educators in Basic Schools on how to promote Girls’ competency in Mathematics and Science with Gender Responsive Pedagogy using ASEI –PDSI Pedagogical Approach in Basic Mathematics Education.
This when properly delivered will aid offers equal opportunities to girls to pursue and thrive in STEM careers later on in their lives which will stimulate the narrowing: of the gender pay gap, enhance women’s economic security, and ensure a diverse STEM workforce.
The three-day workshop which commenced on Monday 22nd – Wednesday 24th August 2022 had in attendance 100 selected participants from the 43 KOICA Supported Schools in the Municipality and was held at Archbishop Porter Girls Polytechnic, Elmina.
Participants were practically taught topics such as algebra, probability, sets, and their application, measurement, percentages, geometric construction, rigid motion, testing for acid and base, and many more using local materials.
With a lot of teachers complaining of scarcity of teaching resources, participants were taken through how to use local materials to extemporize.
In her speech, the Central Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Martha Owusu Agyemang urged participants to take their lessons seriously as the essential materials needed for the workshop were accessible.
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“The environment is convenient for the program. There are adequate teaching and learning resources for you to use”, Mrs. Martha Owusu Agyemang stated.
However, she expressed worry as to why most Girls are afraid to read Science and Mathematics.
According to her, Science and mathematics are with us, and that should have changed the narrative, but it’s otherwise.
she, therefore, admonished participants to find solutions to all unanswered mathematical and science problems in their classrooms after the workshop.
“This workshop seeks to improve the participation of Girls in Science and Mathematics. You will have hands-on experience in the teaching of Mathematics and Science and you are going back well prepared to deliver and improve the teaching of science and mathematics”. Mrs. Agyemang tells the participants
The Director further elucidated the program is a test case for the region, and it’s piloted in the Central and Eastern Regions of Ghana, so participants should give it their all.
She concluded with gratitude to KOICA and GES for the program.
Speaking with Coleman Publications, Mrs. Olivia Serwaa Opare, Director of STEM Education-GES, articulated that, the workshop is meant to train the teachers with hands-on techniques to make the teaching of science and mathematics fun and engaging and to promote the Girl’s competency in Science, Technology and Mathematics at the Basic level of Education.
“Improving learning outcomes by building teachers’ capacity in Science and mathematics is the sure way to boost the Girl Child competency in the field. Teachers have been taught to design, and share hands-on activities which complement the national curriculum from low-cost and locally available materials.”, Mrs. Opare asserted.
She urged teachers to be resourceful by making good use of materials available within their environment as “Science is the environment and the environment is science”.
In her address, Mrs. Justine I. Apawu, KEEA Municipal Director of Education, posits the world is dynamic and every human being despite their gender, has to adapt to the changing world by clinging to STEM education.
She added that STEM education is essential for young girls as it encourages them to think of themselves as innovators.
“The interdisciplinary subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics help learners especially the girl-child become critical thinkers and Innovators. And educating the Ghanaian Girl Child in Science, technology, and Mathematics will result in Ghanaian Girls moving into Science-related fields,’ Mrs. Justine I. Apawu expressed.
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The Special Guest of Honor, Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba(UEW), in his speech stated that Mathematics is not for some selected group of people but for all.
He expanded that mathematics is a part of our daily lives and hence should not be taught in an abstract.
“Make mathematics more exciting to the students and let them develop the passion. Our Learners are brilliant, it is for you as a teacher to bring them up by using the right resources and approaches in your lesson delivery,” Professor Anamuah Mensah indicated.
“Mathematics is not a foreign concept; it is around us, and We can take science and mathematics to the outermost. it all depends on us-teacher”, He added.
Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah admonished the participants to provide teaching and learning-by-doing to enable hands-on science and mathematics regardless of resource constraints.
Concentrating on the need for girl child Education, The Regional Gender Officer, and the Regional Deputy PRO, GES-Central Region, Priscilla Christabel Eshun added that, the workshop will help enhance the teaching and learning of science and mathematics at the Basic level. This She believes will help promote the girl child’s competency in Science and Mathematics
“Teachers applying the practice received in the classroom will allow learners to understand how the world works and how they can become a more involved part of the world” This will help the girl-child’s cognitive development” she added.
“When girl-children are provided with the opportunity to receive an education, they are more likely to improve their own lives and those of their families”, Priscilla Christabel Eshun inferred.
In her submission, Miss Olivia Afful, The Gender/Guidance and Counselling Coordinator for KEEA applauded KOICA and GES for organizing such a workshop for the teachers in Municipality.
“The training has empowered the beneficiaries by covering essential topics in science and mathematics. As they deliver same in the classrooms, learners will erase some misconceptions they have about the subjects”, Olivia stated.
Mr. Arthur Payne, the Regional Science and Mathematics Coordinator obliged the participants to utilize the skills they are equipped with.
“Do well to inculcate in the learners what you have learned here. Make the teaching and learning of the Science and Mathematics environment a welcoming one to learners”, he expressed.
The STMIE Coordinator for KEEA, Madam Grace Essuman Mensah, was in charge of the workshop and she indicated that the workshop has enlightened participants.
She believes the Municipality will have the best science and mathematics learners soon.
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Mr. B.K.Asare, the regional Statistics officer, was highly impressed with the methodology adopted by the facilitators of the program, especially the use of local materials in the teaching of Mathematics and science.
All the eight SISO’s in the KEEA were present to support the organization of the program.
Some of the participants who spoke with Coleman Publications expressed their excitement as to how impactful the program is to them
“This workshop is extremely extraordinary in giving us easy and accessible materials to use for our classes. We’ll be using the techniques and materials learned here to help our learners, especially our girl-child” a participant stated.
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