Government starts science scholarship scheme

President John Atta Mills has said the government has started implementing the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS) to increase enrolment of students studying mathematics, science and technology.

The programme, which is being implemented through the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, is aimed at supporting needy but brilliant students in second and tertiary institutions in Ghana.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the 50th anniversary conference of the Mathematics Association of Ghana (MAG) in Koforidua on Tuesday.

He said the MASTESS programme and the African Square Kilometer Array Programme, aimed at encouraging Ghanaian universities to introduce the Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics, are aimed at enhancing the application of Mathematics in Science and Technology centers.

The President called on teachers of mathematics to encourage, motivate and inspire students to study the subject.

He said teaching mathematics could be made more attractive and interesting “like football “if greater emphasis is laid on its application through practical and analytical thinking.

President Mills said the development of the country needed strong scientific and technological support where the study of mathematics plays a major role and expressed regret that many students perceived the subject as difficult.

The President urged members of MAG to develop the habit of writing interesting mathematics books.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, called on mathematics teachers to prepare well before their classes and to consult each other when faced with challenging situations in the teaching of the subject.

Ms Adwoa Nkrumah, the National President of the MAG, called for the introduction of mathematics teachers in primary schools to make the subject more attractive and interesting to pupils.

She also called for the establishment of mathematics resources centres in every region manned by experienced and innovative mathematics teachers where other teachers could go to interact and learn modern handling of the subject to make their delivery interesting in the classroom.

Source: GNA