A total of 174 Junior High Schools across all 15 municipal and district assemblies in the Upper East Region have taken delivery of Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) equipment to introduce hands-on practical learning amongst JHS students.
The initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in partnership with iTEC Global, forms part of a broader national effort to strengthen the foundation of STEM education at the basic level.
Speaking at a brief ceremony in Bolgatanga to hand over the equipment to Municipal and District Directors of Education, Read Jones, the Project Delivery Manager at iTEC Global, said the project is designed to make science and technology more engaging and practical for young learners.
“The BSTEM project consists of both equipment and a training framework for teachers in beneficiary schools,” he explained. “What we have here will serve all 15 districts across the Upper East Region, with 174 schools receiving their sets in this phase. The aim is to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at an early stage, encouraging active, investigative learning in classrooms.”
According to Mr. Jones, each set of equipment contains over a thousand items, ranging from basic mathematical tools and geometric shapes to advanced kits such as robotics, electricity, electronics, and solar power sets, as well as laptops for coding and programming lessons.
He added that trained facilitators at the district level will soon visit the beneficiary schools to guide teachers on the effective use of the equipment.
“This initiative will help pupils understand how things work in the real world while equipping them with transferable skills relevant to university education or direct entry into industry,” he said.
The Deputy Regional Director of Education for the Upper East Region, John Ankoh, described the delivery of the BSTEM equipment as a “significant milestone” in the region’s educational journey.
“These tools will not gather dust in storerooms; rather, they will find their way to the classrooms where they belong. Our Regional Monitoring Team will ensure they are used effectively to enhance teaching and learning of STEM subjects,” Mr. Ankoh said.
He further emphasized that the intervention represents more than logistics — it symbolizes a renewed commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem solvers.
On behalf of all Municipal and District Directors of Education, Philip Frederick Alale, GES Director for the Garu District, thanked the government and iTEC Global for the support.
The BSTEM initiative, which spans five years, is expected to eventually cover 10,000 Junior High Schools nationwide and later extend to primary and kindergarten levels.
Source: A1Radioonline|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
