Gov’t committed to making STEM Education cornerstone of national development – Prof. Gavua Dzisi

The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Prof. Smile Gavua Dzisi, says government is committed to making Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education the foundation of national development.

Speaking at the “2025 STEMtastic Adventures! Africa Symposium” in Nairobi, Kenya, Prof Dzisi emphasised that improving STEM education remains a priority in enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Ghana’s workforce.

“We are really committed to having a robust STEM workforce. Because we recognise that to stay competitive and also to be able to solve unique challenges or problems in all the sectors, we need to pay critical attention to STEM education,” she explained.

Prof. Dzisi noted that Ghana’s current STEM strategy is anchored in the Education Sector Medium-Term Development Plan (ESMTDP) 2018–2030.

The plan outlines three core policy objectives: improved teaching and learning resources, enhanced STEM outcomes for all students, particularly girls, and reforms in curriculum and assessment.

She further noted the government has rolled out key initiatives to shape the policy landscape, including the ICT for Education Policy, the EdTech Strategy, and the integration of coding and robotics into both basic and secondary education curricula.

The symposium, organised by the mEducation Alliance in collaboration with the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) and the African Union Development Agency, served as a platform for sharing best practices and evidence-based innovations in STEM instruction.

The meeting also focused on promoting equity in STEM education through inclusive approaches that ensure access for underrepresented groups.

Participants included government and policy representatives, international and regional organisations, technology and innovation experts, foundations, nonprofit and for-profit institutions, researchers, teachers, and students from across Africa and beyond.

Prof. Dzisi disclosed that efforts are underway to equip every school in Ghana with modern STEM laboratories and to ensure the availability of highly skilled STEM teachers.

She emphasised the importance of continuous professional development for existing educators, particularly in areas such as pedagogy, digital tools, and practical teaching methodologies.

She additionally called for sustained investment in infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and reiterated the importance of teacher training in building interest and capacity in STEM fields.

“As we speak, there’s a compulsory, mandatory teacher professional development that we do every month to make sure that we equip them with the necessary skills to be able to impart to our students,” she said.

Ghana’s delegation to the symposium also included Deputy Executive Director of the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS), Larry K. Agbor, Principal Programme Officer in charge of STEM Education at the Ministry of Education, Peter Kwaku Tettey, Victor Owusu of the Ghana Education Service, Headmistress of Aggrey Memorial Episcopal Zion Senior High School, Ms. Doroth Anyimadu, Assistant Headmistress of Aggrey Memorial Senior High School, Ms. Juliana Anyimadu, and Municipal STEM Coordinator at the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirim District, Madam Grace Essuman Mensah.

Madam Mensah spoke at the Mathematical Thinking session, where she shared insights on best practices for improving math instruction across Ghana.

She highlighted classroom strategies such as activity-based learning, contextual problem-solving, and the use of manipulatives to make abstract concepts more accessible.

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