President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's pledge to establish a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) senior high school in the Upper West Region of Ghana has not been fulfilled, raising concerns among stakeholders in the region.
The President made the promise in Nandom, during his August 22nd 2022 visit to the Upper West Region.
Nana Akufo Addo Speaking in Nandom- August, 2022
The move was hailed as a significant step towards addressing the dearth of STEM education in the region, which has resulted in a high number of students migrating to other regions to pursue STEM-related courses.
However, over a year after the promise, there is no sign of the school's establishment. The delay has left students and parents in the region worried about their future prospects.
According to a survey conducted by the Ghana Education Service (GES), only 10% of students in the Upper West Region pursue STEM-related courses in tertiary institutions, compared to over 50% in other regions. This disparity is attributed to the lack of adequate STEM education at the secondary level.
The need for a STEM senior high school in the region is, therefore, imperative to bridge the gap and provide students with quality STEM education that will prepare them for tertiary institutions and future careers.
The delay in fulfilling the President's promise has also led to criticism from some quarters.
Recently, some concern citizens of the Upper West Region led by the chief of Gbankor, Mr. Emmanuel Mwinila Yuori expressed dismayed the exclusion of the Upper West Region and northern Ghana from the governments STEM education drive in the county.
The Minority in Parliament, for instance, has called on the government to expedite action on the project.
In a statement signed by Haruna Iddrisu, former Minority Leader last year, they urged President Akufo-Addo to fulfill his campaign promise by establishing STEM senior High schools in northern Ghana as soon as possible. They also called on him to provide adequate funding for STEM education at all levels of the education system.
The government 3 years ago announced plans to establish STEM clubs in schools across the country as part of its efforts to promote STEM education. These clubs will provide students with opportunities to engage in practical activities related to STEM subjects and foster their interest in these fields.
Despite these initiatives by the government and the establishment of STEM SHSs in some regions in the southern parts of Ghana, none of the five regions in the north has benefited from the STEM senior high schools projects from the government.
Citizens and stakeholders in the Upper West Region are therefore calling on President Akufo-Addo to fulfill his promise and establish a STEM senior high school as soon as possible. They argue that such a school will not only address the shortage of STEM education but also provide students with access to quality facilities and resources that will prepare them for tertiary institutions and future careers.