Tullow Ghana Limited has stepped up its leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education by building the capacity of 20 Senior High School (SHS) Teachers under its funded flagship Educate to Innovate with STEM Project in the Western Region.
The two-day capacity building workshop, themed: “Defining Effective Methods of Teaching STEM Subjects”, was organized by the Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF), implementers of the Project, to equip teachers of STEM with information on effective methods of teaching to create understanding and sustain student interest; promote networking and peer to peer learning among teachers; as well as strengthen the collaboration between Tullow, YBF and key stakeholders.
The Project aims at promoting and inspiring students’ interest in STEM and improving their performance in the core subjects of Science and Mathematics at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the next three years by 50 per cent.
In his welcome address, Mr. Seth Oteng, the Executive Director of YBF, noted that “This workshop is one of the many avenues Tullow Ghana Limited and YBF are adopting to immerse teachers under the Project in the theory and practice of Science, Technology and Engineering and the solving of Mathematical problems to equip students under the Project from the basic level to SHS.
“Harnessing talent and creativity must be done at an early stage and we are happy to be contributing to the empowerment of these participants with the positive impact being felt by their students,” he said.
Mr. Oteng, therefore, tasked the teachers to mentor their students with the knowledge acquired.
Prior to the workshop, the participants highlighted their expectations for the training. They included the acquiring new methods of teaching practically; new methods of teaching Mathematics; getting knowledge in science practicals; improving practical skills of teaching science; learning from each other on best practices of teaching electronics; building a knowledge-sharing network among teachers.
In a follow-up interview, the remarks and responses of teachers confirmed the positive impact of the workshop.
Among them were; Madam Evelyn Anumel, a Biology Teacher at Archbishop Porter Girls’ SHS and a participant observed that “This workshop has been very beneficial. We thank Tullow Ghana Limited and Youth Bridge Foundation for creating such a platform for science teachers to share ideas and dialogue on how to improve on mode instructions.”
Also, Mr. Daniel Hebert Tetteh, a Chemistry Teacher at Nkroful SHS and a participant noted that “This workshop has exposed me to integrate concept maps in the teaching and learning of chemistry to make more meaningful to my students.”
Another participant, Madam Vida Rivers Oppong, a Biology Teacher at Half Assini SHS said, “Tapping into the knowledge of other teachers was key for me. I believe this initiative has exposed me to varied methodologies of teaching biology better in my school.”
BY YBF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT