The Dean of the School of Computing and Information Sciences at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Professor Edward Y. Baagyere, has called for greater emphasis on science and technology from the earliest stages of education to support the development of the Upper East Region.
Prof. Baagyere said interest in science should be deliberately cultivated among children from the early years of schooling rather than waiting until students are making decisions about their future careers.
“Science should be something that you are passionate for. So this passion can be generated right from your early days of schooling,” he said.
Speaking on A1 Radio during a discussion on “The Future of Science and Technology Education in the Upper East Region: The Role of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences,” Prof. Baagyere said teachers and the education system have a critical role in making science practical and attractive to learners.
He said greater use of practical experiments could help children understand how scientific concepts apply to everyday life and reduce the fear some students develop towards subjects such as Mathematics and Chemistry.
Prof. Baagyere argued that inadequate exposure to science at the early stages of education could affect students’ willingness and ability to pursue science-related programmes and careers later.
“We should really redimension our way of teaching science to make it very palatable, acceptable and well leveraged. So when they grow, they will be able to use it, apply it and understand it,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience as a General Science student, Prof. Baagyere recalled that science classes were dominated by boys, with relatively few girls pursuing the subject.
He said the way science is introduced and taught could play a role in encouraging more children, including girls, to develop an interest in the field.
Prof. Baagyere pointed to countries including Japan, China, South Korea and Rwanda as examples of places where science and technology have featured prominently in development strategies.
He said the Upper East Region must similarly develop a culture in which young people see science and technology as tools for solving problems rather than difficult subjects to avoid.
The UTAS Dean said strengthening science education from the basic level could help build a generation of scientists and technology innovators capable of developing solutions to challenges confronting the Upper East Region.
The discussion comes as UTAS highlights its progress in teaching, learning, research and community service during its six years of existence. The university says it won the National ENACTUS Competition four consecutive times from 2021 to 2024, beating institutions including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University for Development Studies.
UTAS subsequently represented Ghana on the global stage, with its team reaching the round of 16 in competitions held in the Netherlands and Kazakhstan.
The university was also ranked 10th in Ghana in 2025 based on its H-Index in the AD Scientific Index global ranking of higher education institutions. UTAS says it maintained that position in 2026 before moving to 8th in the 2027 ranking. Prof. Baagyere believes these developments must be matched with stronger efforts to inspire the next generation of scientists and technology innovators, particularly from the Upper East Region.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
