STEM Coordinators intensify efforts to improve education in Kassena Nankana Municipality
The meeting held at the Navrongo Health Research Center on February 5, focused on identifying challenges confronting the teaching of Mathematics and Science at the basic and secondary levels, while also proposing practical solutions to enhance the programme’s implementation blueprint.
Conveners of the STEM Education Improvement Initiative in the Kassena Nankana Municipality have held a one-day stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the area.
The meeting held at the Navrongo Health Research Center on February 5, focused on identifying challenges confronting the teaching of Mathematics and Science at the basic and secondary levels, while also proposing practical solutions to enhance the programme’s implementation blueprint.
Participants included traditional leaders, officials from the Municipal Education Directorate, teachers, representatives of the Municipal Assembly, national STEM education coordinators, and non-governmental organisations with an interest in STEM education.
Speaking to Mike FM after the engagement, Mercy Abada, Co-Convener of the STEM Education Improvement Programme in the municipality, explained the motivation behind the initiative.
She said the programme was conceived last year when a group of friends and associates came together to discuss ways of improving students’ performance in Science and Mathematics.
“What started as a casual conversation later became a serious intervention after consultations with key stakeholders. Statistics from last year showed a pass rate of about 22 per cent in Mathematics and Science, which is not encouraging.”
“That informed our decision to formally launch the programme in the municipality,” she noted.
Abada also highlighted the purpose of the stakeholder engagement, describing it as a critical step in refining the programme’s long-term strategy.
“Today’s engagement is part of our efforts to review and strengthen our 10-year blueprint. We brought stakeholders together to discuss how we can practically implement this plan and ensure it delivers the intended results,” she said.
On his part, the Acting Consultant for the programme, Professor Christopher Bornaa, Dean of the School of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, underscored the significance of the engagement.
“The ideas, suggestions and findings from this meeting will help us improve our approach and the overall implementation of the programme,” he stated.
Professor Bornaa expressed optimism about the level of commitment shown by participating organisations, noting that many had pledged their readiness to collaborate and support the initiative.
“From here, we will hit the ground running with the ideas gathered. There has been a very positive response, and we are confident that with collective effort, this programme will succeed,” he added.
He called for sustained collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the long-term success of the STEM Education Improvement Programme in the Kasena Nankana Municipality.
Mike 105FM | Navrongo | David Adapuna
