Students told to remove myth about science

Tema, Aug. 21, GNA - Students, especially girls, have been urged to remove the myth surrounding the study of science subjects and venture into them to increase opportunities for their advancement.

Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, Tema Municipal Chief Executive, gave the advice at a week long Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) Clinic at Tema for selected Junior Secondary School (JSS) students drawn from the public and private schools in the Municipality. He said science constituted the foundation for rapid economic development and urged young students to develop analytical and enquiring minds towards it because they had the potential to become famous scientists.

He said science required searching for solutions to problems even when the physical body was relaxing or engaged in less strenuous activities.

"To this end, there is the need to examine our conscience and find the technical know-how to help hasten socio-economic development because relying on foreign inventions and goods would not only make us mentally sluggish but will continue to make us willing slaves to the developed nations," he said.

He, therefore, urged science students not only to learn to memorise what is being taught but must be able to visualise how they could apply them in practical situations.

For students to understand the subject, however, the MCE called on teachers to endeavour to encourage students to understand and visualise or demonstrate what they learnt since the era of assimilating raw information through the system of learning by rote was over.

Teachers must help students to develop critical thinking, be observant, ask questions and experiment their lessons and this must be encouraged from childhood.

He said the TMA in collaboration with the GES had instituted a sponsorship scheme for teacher trainees pursuing courses in mathematics, science and other subjects to help develop their skills to promote the development of the Municipality.

Dr Grace Andoh, Principal Dentist at the Tema Polyclinic, to the students to develop interest in information, communication and technology because it had been found as a tool that could address some of the challenges in education and enhance the learning process if applied well in classrooms.

Dr (Mrs) Agatha Aboe, an Ophthalmologist and Mr Francis Tuyee, an Industrialist, Spokespersons for role models at the function, encouraged the participants made up of boys and girls to pursue science subjects because they were capable of achieving laurels in the area. Dr (Mrs) Aboe said science required quick sensitivity, curiosity, alertness, practical application and general positive attitude towards learning.

During the introduction it turned out that most of the role models attended well-endowed schools, but she asked the students not to be discouraged by that because academic success did not depend on the school one attended but called for seriousness and determination. The Ophthalmologist advised parents and guardians against compelling their children and wards to take science subjects because they might end up performing poorly in the area and by the time they noticed it precious time and money might have been wasted.

Mr Tuyee urged science students to be innovative and always endeavour practicing with local materials to produce something beneficial and thereafter improve upon it.

Mrs Beatrice Ofori-Boadu, Coordinator for the STME, said realising the low participation of girls in science subjects the GES instituted the clinic to arouse their interest and to help to tap their potentials. She said boys had been included in the programme so that an imbalance would not created by leaving them out.

The clinic, which was organised by the Tema Office of the GES in conjunction with the TMA, has as its theme: "Scientific and Technological Education: The Hope of the Nation".