The government’s efforts to transform the education sector, especially the pre-tertiary level, with innovative teaching and learning initiatives that develop skills to meet the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) requirements continue with the introduction of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) centres.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has commissioned an STEAM centre in Accra as the first of 20 such facilities to be established across the country to complement the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) schools’ programme.
STEAM education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue and critical thinking. It supports learners on how to think critically, solve problems, use creativity, and prepares learners for real-life in a student-centred learning environment.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, in his remarks at the project inauguration at the Accra High SHS, indicated that as part of the government’s effort to align education needs with the needs of industry, the facility is fitted with modern equipment to aid the effective teaching and learning of science.
“This is our best choice to transform education in the country. We have all the natural resources in the country, yet we are underdeveloped. We can become a developed nation by being determined to excel, and changing the narrative,” he said.
He encouraged students to explore the various pathways and resources in the STEAM facility, which include coding, electronics, robotics, game development, and character design.
Dr. Adutwum further emphasised that the government is determined to create avenues to support the production of more engineers and scientists in the country, hence, the students must begin to think in that direction.
The STEAM centre was constructed by the Government of Ghana through the Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in collaboration with the Israeli Government through the ROBO Group.
Chief Executive Officer of ROBO Group, Yoram Doitch, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration with the country to develop the skills and potentials of the students in science and technology.
The Accra High STEAM Centre, located on the Accra High School campus, is open from Monday to Friday to all pre-tertiary schools within the Greater Accra Region.
In attendance were students from Accra Girls’ SHS, Labone SHS, St. Thomas Aquinas Boys’ SHS, Accra High SHS, and many other dignitaries and stakeholders.
Impact of 20 STEAM Centres
Countries with adequate STEAM infrastructure globally have been able to harness the maximum benefits of the module. Key among these benefits is that it improves necessary 21st century skills (critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, social skills, technology literacy, productivity, etc.). It enables learners to think systematically and critically through problems, and apply new information or experience to figure out the best solutions. It offers meaningful collaboration in that learners work as a team, exchange ideas, and discuss ways to solve a problem, divide up responsibilities and encourage one another.
Therefore, the country’s ability to establish the 20 STEAM centres across the country would aid in building learners’ self-confidence to be productive and motivate them to engage and contribute to the learning process.
