Government to construct STEM centres in 2020 – Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori–Atta has said that the Government will commence the construction of 20 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Centres across the country in 2020.

The project will also include the supply and installation of educational equipment and training of teachers and instructors.

Mr. Ofori-Atta made this known when he delivered the 2020 Budget Statement today (November 13 2019) in Parliament.

”As part of government’s vision of ensuring that every pupil in Ghana is adequately prepared for the global digital economy, the Ministry will carry out the National Digital Literacy Project in 2020.’’ He stated

According to the Minister of Finance, the project is targeted at teachers and learners in all primary schools to make it possible for them to access digital technology and communication tools for learning.

He noted that the project will, among other things, include: distribution of broadband enabled digital devices for all learners and teachers; development of trainer module to develop the capacity of teachers and relevant implementers; development and provision of appropriate content for digital learning; and establish a plant in Ghana to assemble and refurbish the device and its relevant accessories.

Mr. Ofori-Atta disclosed that the Ministry with the support of UNICEF is putting together an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Policy to provide a framework for comprehensive early childhood education and standards for teaching and monitoring of public and private providers.

‘’In 2020, the Ministry of Education will work with the Ministries of Gender and Social Protection and Health to implement the ECE Policy nationwide’’ he added

Mr. Ofori-Atta said the Ministry provided basic education establishment supplies of 156,925 class attendance registers, 100,000 teachers’ notebooks, 2,207,383 boxes of white chalk and 161,735 boxes of coloured chalk to all public basic schools.

He revealed that the Ghana Education Service introduced new school uniforms for pupils in public Junior High Schools as part of reforms in the education sector.

Government procured JHS uniforms for distribution to 294,000 JHS pupils in deprived communities for the 2019/2020 academic year.

In addition, a total of 300,000 pupils in KG and Primary were given uniforms to boost enrollment and retention in schools in deprived communities.

Source: gbcghanaonline.com