Basic level science inadequate, says Scientist
Dr Abdulai Baba Salifu, Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has questioned the adequacy and currency of the science curriculum at the basic level.
He said a number of science textbooks at the basic level over-dwell on previous themes and do not capture all the recent advances such as biotechnology and the invasion of alien species.
Dr Salifu made the observation during the inauguration of Ghana Science Association (GSA) office building in Accra on Wednesday.
He appealed to the Ghanaian scientific community, the Curriculum Research and Development Division of Ghana Education Service and policy makers to address the inadequacies of the curriculum and ensure that science teachers are committed to the subject and make its study practical even at the elementary level.
Dr Salifu observed that with the current state of science curriculum, no better performance of pupils should be expected if they enter into international competitions.
Professor Daniel Ofori-Obeng, the Outgoing President of the Association, expressed regret that science and technology has not been fully exploited in Ghana.
He underlined serious efforts to create adequate awareness for Ghanaians to urgently embrace science and technology for national development.
“We would like to see a strong collaboration between industry and science because sustainable development is not feasible without such strong partnership. We really need support from industry and the private sector for our activities, Prof Ofori-Obeng said.
“The GSA must claim territory as frontiers in championing the course and aspirations of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM … As members of GSA, we must commit ourselves to public engagement as a decisive step in seeking to improve STEM and increase its acceptability and application for, and inclusion in our national development.”
Dr Yaw Osafo Maafo, a Former Minister of Education, who provided the seed money for the building, noted that science could not be developed without a strong mathematics base.
Prof Frederick Kwaku Addai, Chairman of the Building Committee, said there was wide consultation on what went into the materials used in the building.
The building which is situated at the Airport Residential Area is built with baked bricks from the Building and Road Research Institute of the CSIR.
Prof Aba Andam, a Past President of the Association, who mooted the idea to put up the building was assisted by Dr Osafo Maafo to do the inauguration.
Source: GNA