Takoradi, Nov 29, GNA - President John Evans Atta-Mills has said the level of Science and Technology Education is low despite the introduction of the subjects into the curricula of basic schools, under the Educational Reform of 1987, and the establishment of some resource centres at the senior high level.

He identified the lack of well-equipped laboratories and workshops, inadequate qualified teachers, lack of incentives for teachers and the misconception that Science and Technology are difficult subjects as some of the challenges that needed to be addressed to improve the situation.

President Mills stated these in an address, read for him by Miss Elizabeth Amoah Tetteh, a Deputy Minister of Education, at the Centenary Anniversary Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the Ghana Secondary Technical School, (GSTS) at Takoradi, on Saturday.

The address was based on the anniversary theme, "100 Years of Science and Technology Education in Ghana - It's Impact and Challenges." The President said: "As a nation, we need more scientists, technologists, doctors, engineers, technicians, agricultural scientists.to support our total national development."

He commended GSTS for being a model of technical education, saying, "this is a tradition built by the past administrators and teachers of the school who inculcated the spirit of hard work in the students reminding them of the importance of staying focused on the purpose for being in school." He urged the students of the school to build on this enviable tradition that had earned the school its outstanding reputation by being disciplined and taking their academic work seriously. President Mills, therefore, appealed to parents to support their wards towards achieving academic success and attaining high moral values. Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the Regional Minister, whose address was read by his deputy, explained that Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) Clinic for Girls was instituted as a project in 1987 with the main objective of bridging the gender gap that existed in the field of Science and Technology.

He said the STME programme is an integral part of the wider national campaign aimed at developing and maintaining a Science and Technology culture among Ghanaians for national development. Mr Thomas Mensah, headmaster of the school, appealed to the government to assist the school to expand its infrastructure as the student population had tripled since the school was established. 29 Nov. 09