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KOICA presents teaching and learning materials to GES
The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has presented teaching and learning materials to the Ghana Education Service(GES), worth over $1 million, to support the successful implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in basic schools.
It forms part of the $8 million KOICA Girls STEM project, aimed to enhance and encourage girls to partake in science education, being implemented in 10 districts, namely the Central and Eastern Regions.
It includes beakers, test tubes, tripod stands, spring balance, test tube holders, stopwatches, hand lenses, measuring cylinders, a set of garden stools, and others to encourage the practical learning of science programmes in the schools.
The Country Director of KOICA Ghana, Mr. Donghyun Lee who presented the education material yesterday in Accra, said, the “girls STEM project” was initiated by KOICA to embody the collective commitment to empowering young minds, breaking barriers, and fostering inclusivity in education.
“Today, we come together not only to review the progress made so far but also to witness a pivotal moment as we hand over essential teaching and learning materials that will further enhance the educational experience for our beneficiaries.
Education is the cornerstone of progress, and the Girls STEM by KOICA project stands as a testament to our belief that investing in the education of young girls is an investment in the future” Mr Lee said.
He said the four-year project, with funding support from KOICA, was a gender-responsive pedagogy project that generally seeks to improve the competency of Junior High School (JHS) STEM education, stressing that, about 400 JHS, were beneficiaries of the ongoing project.
The Director General of the GES, Dr Eric Nkansah who thanked KOICA for their immense contributions to Ghana’s education, especially in the area of STEM, was optimistic the presentation would improve the learning of science in the country.
He said about 12.5 per cent of students were able to pursue science programmes in the various Senior High Schools, stressing that girls’ participation in STEM education had significantly reduced.
Dr Nkansah implored Girls to embrace STEM education with all seriousness since science education had become one of the priority requirements to further their education at the tertiary level.
He called on benevolent individuals and organisations to support the Service and to improve science education in the various JHS and SHS, as the government welcomes such collaborations to achieve the STEM initiative.
Dr Nkansah said that by harnessing the power of STEM, Ghana could address societal challenges to enhance productivity and improve the overall quality of citizens.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN.
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
