Mamfe-Akuapem (E/R), March 09, GNA -A female student of the Mampong-Akuapem Secondary Technical School for the Deaf, Miss Linda Djaba, has called for the establishment of a science laboratory for the school.

She said this would encourage more girls to show interest in the study of the subject. Miss Djaba, who is hearing impaired and speak by using the sign language, questioned how female students of the School could study science when they did not have a science laboratory and teachers. She made the request at a symposium organized to observe the centenary celebration of the International Women's Day in the Eastern Region at Mamfe-Akuapem on Tuesday. The theme for the celebration was 93Equal access to education, training, science and technology: pathway to decent work for women".

Students from Akuapem-Mampong Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS), Akuapem-Mampong Secondary Technical School for the Deaf, Mangoase SHS and Mamfe Methodist Girls SHS attended the programme. In a speech read on his behalf the Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Ben B. Cronze, called for early introduction of science education in the school curriculum.

He said for more girls to show interest in science and technology, science teachers had the responsibility to help reverse the masculine image adopted for science and teach girls to recognize their role models in female science teachers.

Mrs Olivia Serwaa Opare, Akuapem North District Science, Technology and Mathematics Co-ordinator, called on the government to supply basic science materials to make the teaching and learning of science more practical and activity oriented to arouse the interest of girls. She suggested the establishment of girls science clubs in both the basic and second cycle schools and called for regular review of science textbooks to eliminate disparaging images of women in them. The Regional Co-ordinator of the Department of Women and Children, Ms Jane Kwapong, appealed to the government to come out with policies and interventions to increase access to education and the training in science and technology for women and girls and provide facilities to make schools more girls friendly and safe. 09 March 11