The Ghana Chemical Society (GCS) has appealed to government, industry players, development partners and individuals to invest in practical chemistry education, particularly in schools with limited or no laboratory facilities.
The Society says inadequate resources for teacher training, laboratory equipment and practical learning materials remain major challenges to efforts aimed at improving science education and making it accessible to children across Ghana.
Speaking during the BONDISTANCE Phase II practical chemistry training programme at Gambibgo Community Day Senior High School in the Bolga East District, the Secretary of the Ghana Chemical Society, Dr Michael Baah Mensah, said every child deserved access to quality chemistry education regardless of geographical location or background.
He explained that equipping teachers with practical skills, knowledge and confidence was essential to improving the quality of science teaching, particularly in underserved communities.
According to him, the Ghana Chemical Society, as the professional body for chemists and chemical scientists in the country, remained committed to supporting initiatives that promote chemistry education, professional development and the application of chemistry to national development.
He said programmes such as BONDISTANCE provided an opportunity for the Society to extend its activities beyond professional engagements and directly support teachers and learners in schools and communities.
Dr Mensah, however, acknowledged that sustaining practical science education initiatives required substantial financial and technical resources.
He identified teacher training, laboratory equipment, practical learning materials and community outreach as areas requiring continuous investment.
According to him, mobilising funding for such programmes was often challenging, making partnerships with institutions, industry players and development organisations necessary.
He therefore appealed for support in the form of funding, equipment, technical expertise, mentorship and institutional partnerships to sustain BONDISTANCE and similar initiatives.
“Investing in teachers today is investing in the next generation of scientists and innovators,” he said.
The BONDISTANCE Phase II programme, funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry through its Chemists’ Community Fund, brought together 73 Junior High School science teachers from the Bolgatanga Municipality and Bolga East District for practical chemistry training.
Of the participants, 54 were drawn from the Bolgatanga Municipality, while 19 came from the Bolga East District.
The two-day training, held from October 5 to 6, 2026, focused on equipping teachers with affordable and innovative approaches to teaching chemistry, particularly in schools without conventional laboratories.
Participants received training in hands-on experiments using locally available materials and the application of PhET interactive simulations to help students understand scientific concepts.
The programme also targeted teachers without formal science training and those who had never conducted practical chemistry experiments, while encouraging greater participation among female science teachers.
The Chief of the Gambibgo Traditional Area, Naba Sayeed Akolmolga Anon-Egra Sadik, commended the organisers and participating teachers for their commitment to improving science education.
He encouraged teachers to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to make chemistry lessons more practical and engaging for students.
The chief also called for the programme to be sustained rather than treated as a one-time intervention, stressing the importance of continuous professional development for teachers.
He acknowledged the collaboration among the Royal Society of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana Chemical Society and University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Navrongo, in making the training possible.
Dr Mensah also expressed appreciation to the organisers and partners for their efforts to improve access to practical chemistry education.
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