Take Science and Mathematics Education Seriously – Hon. Mahama Ayariga

Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Education

The Deputy Minister of Education, Hon. Mahama Ayariga has called on Ghanaians to take science and mathematics seriously especially in the tertiary levels no matter the financial implication.

He said there is ample evidence all over the world that science and mathematics education has propelled countries with limited natural resources to very dizzying height in their socio-economic development, citing Japan and Malaysia as example of countries that are able to use their scientific knowledge to develop their countries.

Hon. Mahama Ayariga made these statements in a speech read on his behalf by the Acting Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Beatrice Obro during the 4^th congregation of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) College of Education in Cape Coast over the weekend under the theme: “Promoting Science and Mathematics Education for Socio-Economic Development”.

According to the Deputy minister of Education, when science and mathematics education is not given priority, the result turns out to be very devastating.

Speaking on the theme for the ceremony, Hon. Mahama Ayariga said the them fits well in the Better Ghana Agenda of the ruling National democratic Congress (NDC) and added that, the Better Ghana Agenda will be vigorous pursued to give the people of Ghana a new lease of life and to improve their standard of living to an acceptable level comparable to any middle-income country anywhere in the world.

The Deputy Minister said that lack of scientific knowledge had led both farmers and fishermen to do the wrong things thereby disturbing foodstuffs and water bodies, adding that with the help of scientific research, the country would be able to avoid certain mistakes.

On his part, Hon. Dr. Ato Essuman, Member of the council of state and the Guest of Honour for the occasion said that quality of education cannot be achieved without a well-trained and motivated teaching force and the commitment of both teachers and parents to the delivery of education.

He commended the Ministry of Education and the teacher education division of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for initiating a programme to institutionalize In-service Training (INSET) into the education system together with a new teacher development and management policy which focus on specific competencies that teachers at all levels are expected to achieve in relation to their classroom practice and contribute to school improvement.

The Principal of OLA college of Education, Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Amoako Arhin, advised the graduants to be faithful to all the ideals, principles, morals and ethics that they had been imbued with and added that they should not shy away from accepting posting to the rural areas.

She appealed to the Government to assist the college complete its projects with an ultra modern library complex, a science laboratory, staff accommodation, resource centre and a new lecture theatre.