We are making strides in building 21st-century schools – Dr Adutwum

The Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, says the government is investing in state-of-the-art school infrastructure to meet the needs of 21st-century learning.

These projects, the Minister said, would revolutionise the country’s educational space and make it fit for purpose.
Dr Adutwum said the Juaben model of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Senior High School (SHS), the Sunyani model of STEM SHS, and others are ongoing and due for completion.

He said the Accra STEM School, from kindergarten to the SHS level, was already completed and ready to be opened in September 2024.
Dr Adutwum announced this during the opening of this year’s International Educators Summit held at the International Community School in Accra.

It is on the theme ” Reimagining Education for the Future We Seek: Africa and the World in Dialogue.” organised by the Ghana Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).
The Minister said the government had made investments in renovating schools like Kumasi High School and Aflao Community SHS with modern educational facilities to improve learning outcomes.

STEM pathways

The government has selected 12 SHS schools to offer aviation and aerospace courses to increase STEM education in the country.

“We need to teach assertive school children to be confident and express themselves without fear.

“The school heads must create a congenial school environment for the pupils to ask questions in class instead of being intimidated,” he said.

He commended the organisers of the Summit, saying the event was a catalyst for change through which ideas were nurtured.

Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, Senior Presidential Adviser, said education must play a meaningful role in addressing a problem.
“We need to think about education to solve problems like sanitation and flooding, among others,” he said.

Good values critical

Dr Patrick Awuah, Founder of Ashesi University, underscored the importance of inculcating good values in their students to succeed.

“Integrity and performance are highly integrated. Our students do not see cheating as a pathway to success,” he said.

Dr Charles Yeboah, Executive Director, Ghana ASCD, said the Summit was to address challenges in the education sector and explore new frontiers of educational technology.

He said since its inception in 2017, Ghana ASCD has been hosting educational conferences tailored for teachers, and school administrators to enhance education in the country.