VC calls for huge investment in teachers

Sunyani: Professor Daniels Obeng-Ofori, the Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Ghana has called for huge investments in the professional development of teachers as the nation advances in Science, Technology, Engineering and Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education.He said teachers needed comprehensive and continuous training to be innovative enough in teaching methodologies and handle STEAM education effectively.Professor Obeng-Ofori made the call when addressing the Second Special Congregation of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani.It was on the theme 'Empowering future leaders through STEAM education,' and the event saw the graduation of 373 students, comprising 254 males and 119 females.They had successfully completed their studies and received their respective qualifications and 289 of them obtained undergraduate degrees, 55 awarded advanced degrees in the postgraduate and 32 obtaining Diplomas.Prof. Obeng-Ofori explained that STEAM education enriched learn ing experiences, fostered creativity, innovation, communication skills and interdisciplinary connections.However, he mentioned limited resources, lack of qualified teachers, gender, and socio-economic disparities as well as insufficient practical learning opportunities as some of the challenges which ought to be tackled to advance the study of STEAM in the country.Prof Obeng-Ofori said on-going efforts including promoting gender equality, provision of scholarships, mentorship programmes and awareness creation were in the right direction to address such challenges.He called for effective collaboration between the government, educational institutions, and the industry, saying that was essential in creating synergy to drive progress.By forming partnerships, these entities could leverage each other's expertise and resources to shape a robust STEAM education ecosystem.Madam Justina Owusu Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister said the government remained committed to supporting the growth and development o f educational institutions in the country.She said the government recognised the critical role Universities played in the socio-economic development of the nation and would continue to ensure that the teaching and learning environment of these institutions were improved for academic excellence.Madam Owusu-Banahene said the government was commitment to enhance STEAM education to build a better, self-reliant, innovative, and competitive country with others globally.Prof. Asare-Bediako, the Vice Chancellor of UENR, urged the faculty, researchers, and students to enhance their involvement in the study of STEAM by utilising interdisciplinary approaches towards driving impactful research and real-world applications.He stressed the need for a strong commitment to nurturing a culture of innovation and collaboration and ensuring that their contributions to STEAM education had a lasting impact on societies.He gave highlights of some achievements of the students, saying three teams of the University secured US $75,000 start-up capital at the 2024 KIC Agritech Pro Final.Eight students also participated in the ERASMUS plus exchange programme at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava.Mr Osei Kofi Fosu, a fourth-year Agribusiness student, won the Agrihouse Foundation Bootcamp Competition and received GHC 75,000 to establish a cutting-edge input dealer business at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Bono Region.Source: Ghana News Agency