Mampong-Ashanti (Ash), Oct. 3, GNA - The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) would next year introduce a Bachelor of Education Degree in Integrated Science at its Mampong Campus to train teachers for basic schools.

The move is to boost the teaching of science at the basic level to lay a solid foundation for science and technology led socio-economic development.

The Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah announced this at the weekend when he addressed 316 fresh students during the 10th matriculation ceremony of the College Agriculture in Mampong-Ashanti.

Professor Anamuah-Mensah expressed regret that at the moment science was rarely taught at the primary school level, pointing out that even what was taught in junior secondary schools did not measure up to international standards.

The lack of seriousness attached to science education explained why the country's performance at international science competitions had been declining in recent years, he said.

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University could only admit 316 students, out of 494 qualified applicants, to the Bachelor of Education in Agriculture programme at the Mampong Campus due to limited academic and residential facilities.

He said 247 males, representing 78 per cent and 89 females making up 22 per cent and expressed his dissatisfaction about the low enrolment of females pledging that the authorities of the University would do more to improve upon the situation.

Consequently, the Vice-Chancellor appealed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the government to set up a 50 billion-cedis special fund to develop facilities at the College of Agriculture at Mampong-Ashanti.

The Principal of the College, Professor Ambrose Kwame Tuah, urged the fresh students to abide by the rules and regulations of the College and make the best use of the limited facilities at their disposal. He appealed to the authorities to provide more academic and residential facilities at the College to attract qualified academic staff.