10/12/2015
Ghana students talk STEM
One of the problems is that students often
don’t understand the career opportunities
that STEM skills offer, and thus lack
motivation.
Making STEM subjects – science, technology,
engineering and mathematics – exciting and
engaging for learners is a challenge faced by
teachers around the world. One of the
problems is that students often don’t
understand the career opportunities that
STEM skills offer, and thus lack motivation.'
STEM education and associated industries are
crucial for economic development, and so
there is a pressing need for Africa’s future
workers to be proficient in these key subjects.
STEM industries include engineering,
computer sciences, physics and medicine –
the basis of a modern knowledge economy.
GE partnered with Google, volunteer
organisation Points of Light and Junior
Achievement – an organisation dedicated to
educating youth about entrepreneurship, work
readiness and financial literacy – to stimulate
interest in STEM careers among junior high
students in Ghana.
Two hundred students took part in the
interactive STEM Careers Awareness Day in
Kotobabi, Accra. During the day, the learners
heard from GE and Google employees about
their careers in engineering and information
communication technology and were
challenged to use their STEM skills to solve a
community problem.
Teams were asked to develop sustainable
STEM-based solutions to real issues, such as
sanitation and community health. The winning
team from Flagstaff House Basic School
developed an app-based solution to tackle
improper waste disposal by teaching
individuals how to sort trash and recycle
waste.
“Millions of university graduates are ill
prepared for the reality of the contemporary
workplace, either by the nature of the courses
they study or the non-suitability of the
curriculum,” said GE’s communications
manager for West Africa, Osagie Ogunbor.
“Mentorship is key in bridging the gap
between classroom instruction. This is why we
are partnering with Junior Achievement in
Ghana to show the students the opportunities
that abound in the STEM world and how they
can make a difference.”
Elizabeth Bintliff, Junior Achievement Africa
CEO, said she was impressed with the turnout
of GE and Google volunteers and the
enthusiasm of participating students. Google
is working on a STEM curriculum to be used
by students in primary and junior high
schools after the campaign, she said.
Continued commitment from business leaders
is critical to encouraging Africa’s young
people to pursue STEM-related courses and,
ultimately, careers. Tomorrow’s engineers,
innovators, creators and scientists will help
create globally competitive economies.