Regional News of Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Source: GNA

Take the study of science seriously - Prof Yeboah-Mensah

Professor Samuel Yeboah-Mensah, Head of LASER Centre at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has urged all female students to make science their priority subject and help make a meaningful contribution to national development.

He entreated them to take a cue from Marie Curie, the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize in physics and look up to her as their mentor for them to excel in the sciences.

Prof Yeboah-Mensah made the call when he addressed a total of 1,843 students of Edinaman Senior High School (EDISEC) during its 33rd Annual Speech And Prize-Giving Day over the weekend.

Speaking on the theme for the celebration, “Quality Education Delivery; The Role of Science and Technology”, Prof Yeboah noted that science and technology education could facilitate national development and if is taken seriously.

He listed the internet, the computer, the laboratory among other technologies as ways that science could help to improve on the quality of education and lives of the people.

Elaborating on what quality education entailed, he said, infrastructure alone will not aid quality education, but in addition to quality teaching, discipline, good nutrition and health.

He said a research in Malawi showed that nutrition increases the IQ of a child and that the support by the Government of Ghana for the school feeding programme was a step in the right direction.

Alhaji A.R. Abdullahi, Headmaster of EDISEC, recounted the school’s achievements throughout the year and announced that the school had for the first time recorded 100 percent passes in all subjects with no candidate failing in English language during the 2011 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He said the school placed second in the regional interschool’s debate that same year and commended the 75 teaching staff urging them to continue with the good work.

Alhaji Abdullahi said some of the challenges facing the school include the lack of adequate staff accommodation and a fence wall to protect the boundaries of the school.

Joseph Biney, Head Boy of the school appealed for support to purchase a bus and a power plant to help facilitate their studies.**