Accra, July 17, GNA - The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports is equipping 15 Teacher Training Colleges specializing in the teaching and learning of science and mathematics to promote and encourage the study of the subjects, the Deputy Minister, Mr Kwame Amporfo Twumasi said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch of the maiden edition of the West African Science and Mathematics Quiz Competition in Accra, he said many programmes had been initiated to enhance the capacity of Science and Mathematics teachers for effective teaching and learning of the subjects.

He said Science and Mathematics education played a vital role in the development of a country adding that the Science, Technology and Mathematics Education Programme by the government had exposed 60,000 girls since its inception. About 2,800 boys have also benefited from the programme since their inclusion in 2004.

He said more science laboratories had also been opened to cater for and increase the enrolment of students of the study of science in the country and its surroundings.

The Science and Mathematics quiz competition, which would be held between Ghana and Nigeria from August 13-16, would feature 12 students on an individual participant's format.

The competition, which is under the auspices of the WAEC Endowment Fund and Primetime, is aimed at promoting a healthy academic rivalry, leading to friendship and a high sense of cooperation and understanding among students of member countries of WAEC.

Mrs. Patience Ayensu, Head of the National Office, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), noted that the study of these two subjects in the progress of a nation, could not be overemphasized, saying this was why many organizations had taken part in the promotion of the Science and Mathematics in the country.

She said WAEC's promotion of these subjects was in line with its mission of providing qualitative and reliable education assessment and encouraging academic excellence among the youth.

Mrs. Ayensu noted that many students had negative perception about the study of Science and Mathematics thus the need to demystify these subjects and make their study as ordinary as the other subjects. She said statistics for the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in 2006 indicated that only 12 per cent of the total candidates were pure science students which greatly accounted for the limited number of students reading science-related subjects at the tertiary level.

Professor Jerome S. Djangmah, Chairman of Council WAEC, said the education of Science and Mathematics should not be limited to boys only but girls should be encouraged in order to bridge the gap. He appealed to corporate organizations to give the necessary requirement and attention needed to inculcate in students the acceptance of science and mathematics as a way of life.