MTN Donates Science Sets to Public Schools

MTN Ghana Foundation in collaboration with Desk Technology has donated Science Sets to the Nima and La Nkwantan Cluster of Schools in Madina to enhance the teaching and learning of science and technology among Junior High Schools (JHS).

The Science Sets is capable of operationalsing almost 30 experiments including electromagnetics, rectilinear propagation of light, and usage of resistors.

This was disclosed in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency and signed by Mr Robert Kuzoe, the Executive Secretary of MTN Ghana Foundation.

Other beneficiary schools would be Kojo Nya and Asikasu Methodist Basic Schools in the Eastern Region; Akyawkrom and Ayeduase Basic Schools in the Ashanti Region; Dr Sanders Basic School and Ridge Experimental School in the Brong Ahafo Region; Akatsi Basic School in the Volta Region; and Akantome JHS in the Upper East Region.

The rest are Bagabaga Annex School in the Northern Region; Wa Model JHS in the Upper West Region; Bethel Methodist JHS in the Western Region; and Srafa Immuna in the Central Region.

Mr Kuzoe, said the Company thought of the initiative because it observed the deficits in the number of science students that graduate from schools every year, even though science plays an important role in the development of the economy.

He said a country that had weak science system in its educational institutions lacked creativity, innovation and development.

He noted that, the Company therefore partnered Dext Technology, a technology innovative development organisation to create the science sets to be distributed across the country.

Mr Kuzoe explained that, 14 public institutions would benefit from the distribution and a total of 2000 science sets would be distributed nationwide with each school receiving over 140.

'This initiative will build interest in young people to study science and we believe it will impact positively on them by enhancing their studies. We want to bridge the gap between the under privileged educational institutions, public and private schools,' he said.

He said science teachers in the beneficiary schools had been trained on how to use the devices in order for them to give a comprehensive user-training to the students.

According to the statement, Mr Kuzoe disclosed that an amount of GH¢126,000 was invested in the initiative.

Mr Caleb Fugah, the Marketing Officer of Dext Technology said the Company also noticed the gap in the study of science in terms of theory and practical.

He said they identified schools that do not have Science laboratories to be beneficiaries, adding that the impact had been enormous.

'We really appreciate MTN for undertaking this step and the teachers for their appreciation and encouragement. We believe this is going to create a big advantage in the study of science to improve Ghanaians thinking ability so that we will become producers and not just consumers', he said.

He disclosed that Dext Technology had also developed microscopes to be used by schools as part of the science sets.

Mr Fugah noted that UN statistics reports that Africa has 12 per cent of Science Studies instead of 45 per cent, adding that, 'If we really want to transform the industrialised economy, then we need to pay attention to Science'.

---GNA