Upper East Region: 174 Junior High schools receive BSTEM equipment

A total of 174 selected Junior High Schools (JHS) across the 15 Municipal and Districts in the Upper East Region have received Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) equipment to enhance practical teaching and learning.

The equipment comprises a wide range of learning resources, from basic tools to advanced systems, including laptops for coding and programming, robotic kits, electricity and electronic sets, and solar power integration components, among others.

The delivery of the equipment formed part of the government’s commitment to transform the educational sector by empowering basic schools to advance the teaching and learning of STEM for transitioning into the senior schools and to help address challenges of the digital age.

The BSTEM project, being implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in partnership with ITEC Global, is a five-year initiative that seeks to provide BSTEM equipment and training to 10,000 Junior High Schools across Ghana.

The project will subsequently include primary and kindergarten schools, providing them with basic STEM resources to ignite their passion for science and innovation from an early age.

Additionally, the project has trained, and continues to train, teachers and instructors in STEM education to equip them with the skills needed to effectively guide students in using the equipment and applying practical knowledge to problem-solving.

At a brief ceremony in Bolgatanga to hand over the items to the various districts, Mr John Ankoh, the Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, acknowledged the critical role STEM played in addressing current national challenges.

“Education is not just about classrooms and chalkboards; it is about awakening curiosity, nurturing innovation, and equipping young minds with tools that enable them to question, explore, and create,” he said.

The Deputy Director commended the government for investing in STEM education at the basic school level to prepare students for a rapidly evolving society, adding that, “this is a symbolic gesture of our collective investment in the future scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers of Ghana.”

He described the project as strategic and timely in bridging the digital divide between the southern and northern parts of the country, noting that rural school children would now be better positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.

He added: “The Regional Monitoring Team will closely monitor their use to ensure they serve their intended purpose: improving the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

“We hope that many more Junior High Schools will be added to the project. This will help students progressing to second-cycle schools to choose STEM-related programmes to pursue.”

Mr Reed Jones, Project Delivery Manager at ITEC Global, said the first phase of the project targets 4,400 Junior High Schools across Ghana and emphasised the need to embrace STEM education to remain relevant in today’s world.

He noted that the project had already trained coordinators in the various districts who would, in turn, train teachers on how to operate the equipment, which were designed to promote hands-on, practical learning in classrooms.

“This project will ignite a passion for STEM learning at an early stage among children and equip them with transferable skills that will remain useful whether they pursue higher education or careers in industry,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of all the district directors after receiving the items, Mr Philip Frederick Alale, the Garu District Director of the Ghana Education Service, commended the government for the support.

He pledged to ensure that all beneficiary schools made good use of the resources.

Mr Alale expressed confidence that the provision of STEM equipment and the accompanying teacher training would enable educators to maintain the materials properly and provide the necessary practical guidance to students to improve learning outcomes.

Source: GNA