During his vetting, the Deputy Education Minister-Designate Hon. Clement Apaak has expressed confidence that he will expand STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Ghana.
He acknowledged the progress made so far, credited both past and present governments for their contributions, and emphasized the need for further investment in the sector.
Hon. Apaak, in responding to a question on the status of STEM education, affirmed that the country has made considerable strides in this field.
“Mr. Chairman, STEM is the future. STEM is an abbreviation that stands for the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Indeed, STEM education in Ghana is in progress. Clearly, the previous government had done some good work in that area.’’
“As a member of the education committee in both the seventh and eighth parliaments, I have sat through meetings and presentations, and I’ve participated in the approval of facilities aimed at promoting STEM education.’’
Hon. Clement Apaak Deputy Education Minister-Designate
Hon. Apaak provided an update on the number of STEM schools in Ghana.
“Madam chairman, as we speak, I am aware that we currently have 10 STEM schools at various levels of completion. My briefing informs me that one has been completed and indeed is operational.”
Hon. Clement Apaak Deputy Education Minister-Designate
However, a follow-up question clarified that seven schools were already operational, with more to come. The nominee acknowledged this correction and reiterated the need for expansion.
Funding STEM Education
When asked about the high cost of STEM education and how he intended to support the substantive minister in mobilizing resources, he said;
“Clearly, STEM is a capital-intensive endeavor, and we cannot rely only on government or public resources if we want to succeed in the manner in which we all anticipate. So, if my minister [Substantive Education Minister] was to seek my opinion, I would suggest that in addition to mobilizing local resources, we reach out to bilateral and multilateral partners as well as donor organizations to support the effort.’’
Hon. Clement Apaak Deputy Education Minister-Designate
Hon. Apaak cited an example of an existing partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, which has played a role in supporting STEM education in Ghana.
”I think we can shop around for similar organizations and institutions to support our effort to promote and perhaps mainstream STEM education.”
Hon. Clement Apaak Deputy Education Minister-Designate
STEM as a Concept: New or Old?
During the vetting, Hon. Dafeamekpor posed a question on whether the concept of STEM schools was new, considering that Ghana had previously introduced science resource centers in secondary schools in the 1990s.
In response, Hon. Apaak clarified that while STEM as a concept was not new, the establishment of STEM schools as a structured educational model was a relatively recent development.
When further asked about the exact period when STEM was introduced into Ghana’s education system, Hon. Apaak admitted;
“Mr. chairman, I don’t have this information immediately. But I am certain that the concept of STEM is not new.’’
Hon. Clement Apaak Deputy Education Minister-Designate
Hon. Clement Apaak’s vetting session highlighted the importance of STEM education as a critical driver of Ghana’s future. He emphasized the progress made, acknowledged the financial challenges, and proposed solutions to enhance STEM education, including partnerships with international organizations.
His vision reinforced the commitment to expanding and sustaining STEM initiatives to ensure that every Ghanaian child benefits from quality education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
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