The government has been called upon to as a matter of urgency resource schools in the country with adequate learning materials to aid teaching and learning.
According to Dr Patrick Essien who made the call, it was sad to see pupils learning subjects like Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) without laboratory and physical computers and therefore called on the government to “divert the monies used to purchase the expensive V8s for its officials into providing learning materials such as computers and apparatus for science practical.”
“It’s sad”, he lamented further, “seeing pupils and students learning science and ICT without apparatus and computers for practicals and in some cases teachers would have to improvise whilst MPs and Ministers of State who are supposed to be serving us, instead, drive and move around in these expensive V8s and Land cruisers at the expense of these innocent children.”
Dr Essien, a lecturer with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) physics department, made this when delivering a speech as the main speaker at the grand finale of the third edition of a Science and Maths quiz competition organized for public Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Anomabo and Yamoransa circuits in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region at Anomabo by the Anomabo chapter of an education initiative called Boys and Girls Club of Ghana.
According to him, science and mathematics were not difficult subjects as some people claim to be “but the absence of required practical equipment in our pre-tertiary schools makes it seem so….the subjects themselves are lively but because the kids don’t the requisite equipment to physically demonstrate with, that’s why they don’t develop a love for it.”
He, therefore, charged science and mathematics teachers in the country to adopt lively strategies in teaching the subjects which would allay the fear of the subjects from their pupils and also if possible, use language that the pupils would understand to teach the subjects “and it shouldn’t always be the English language because as a teacher you must let your students understand what you’re teaching so you do them a great disservice if you use language they don’t understand.”
He finally commended the Club for its unflinching and numerous contributions to Ghana’s education in diverse ways, especially in the duo circuits.
In expressing his joy at the involvement of females in the competition, he gave all four females who participated ¢100.00 each to motivate them and ¢50.00 each to the boys.
The competition was between Eguase Good Shepherd Anglican JHS under the Yamoransa circuit, Anomabo Methodist ”A” JHS under Anomabo circuit ‘A’ and Ndasimam M/A JHS which is also under Anomabo circuit ‘B’.
At the end of the four rounds of the competition, Ndasimam M/A JHS emerged the winner with 63 points as Eguase Good Shepherd Anglican JHS and Anomabo Methodist ‘A’ JHS placed second and third with 47 and 42 points respectively.
The winning school and all participating schools were given amongst other prizes, cash, certificates, and learning materials.
