Category: Education

Achieving scientific innovation and academic excellence in graduate education requires fostering a culture of creativity, curiosity, flexibility and collaboration among students and researchers.

Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said investing more in infrastructure, equipment, and training for institutions could help address local and global challenges.

Speaking at the maiden KNUST Annual Post Graduate Conference in Kumasi, Prof Owusu-Dabo said Africa and Ghana could become a hub of scientific innovation and academic excellence for the benefit of humanity if inputs and outputs become higher.

He said it was important for Africa to do more in the areas of research and innovation, saying that only two per cent of world research output and 1.3 per cent of research spending came from the continent.

Despite the shortfall, he said the continent had chalked some successes in scientific innovations which included Precision Oncology, The Mamaope Jacket, LifeStraw, 3D printing technology to create low-cost prosthetics for people with disabilities across the continent, as well as implementation of mobile health clinics and artificial intelligence (AI).

‘These innovations show that Africa has the potential and talent to contribute to scientific advancement,’ he observed.

Prof. Owusu-Dabo said a team of researchers in KNUST had developed a low-cost and rapid diagnostic test kit for COVID-19, while vaccine trial projects on typhoid and cervical cancer led by scientists in KNUST and many others were also currently going on.

The maiden conference organized by the College of Health Sciences, KNUST was held on the theme ‘Scientific Innovation and Academic Excellence: The Hallmark of Graduate Education’.

The Pro VC said despite the prospects, a major challenge was the generational protection of intellectual property (IP), which facilitated knowledge sharing, technology transfer and cross-sectorial partnerships that enhanced the quality and impact of scientific innovation.

Globally, Ghana is ranked 39th in IP with a score of 40.88 points, which indicates that there is room for improvement.

He said it was imperative for the new generation of scientists and researchers to contribute to enhancing our intellectual property environment through scientific innovations and technology-driven tangibles.

Prof. Christian Agyare, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, said the College was dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation in health sciences.

He said in the last four years, the College had been leading in publications and had contributed to about 60 per cent of the research outputs of the KNUST.

He added that there was immense potential within the health sciences community to make significant contributions to the world.

Prof. Alexander Yaw Debrah, the Conference Committee Chairman, said Ghana must be able to succeed with the world developing rapidly through research and innovation, which were fundamentals for reducing poverty and building stronger economies.

He believed the conference which was to encourage postgraduate students to showcase research work to the world would challenge them to come out with cutting-edge findings and problem solutions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Chemu Senior High School has won the Tema Metro Education Directorate’s Science and Maths Quiz, which is a preliminary to the National Maths and Science Quiz.

Chemu, the defending champions, retained the trophy with 20 points, beating Our Lady of Mercy Senior High (OLAMS) and Tema Presbyterian Senior High School (PRESEC), who placed second and third, respectively.

The Education Directorate, in collaboration with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, organised the second edition of the Metro Maths and Science Quiz for senior high schools in Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

During the grand finale of the quiz at the Tema-PRESEC Hall, Mrs Bernice Ofori, the Tema Metro Director of Education, said the Quiz would be organised at all levels of education annually.

This will help to stimulate scientific and mathematical thinking while improving the teaching and learning of mathematics and science in school.

She admonished all science and maths teachers to employ the best approaches and effective practical strategies to teach those subjects to demystify the fears around them.

Mrs Rachel Annoh, the Quiz Mistress, encouraged all participating schools to use the opportunity to foster healthy academic rivalry among senior high schools.

She said the contestants could improve their ability to think critically, creatively, and under pressure, which would help build their confidence.

The event was geared towards improving students’ performance in the upcoming West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination and prepare them for the 2023 National Science and Maths Quiz.

Chemu Senior High, OLAMS, and Tema-PRESEC received plaques and prizes for their performance.

Other participating schools, including Tema Manhean Senior High and Technical School, the Methodist Senior School, failed to make the final three for the ultimate prize of the quiz.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) says it has helped in consolidating the country’s democracy through effective and efficient civic education delivery.

In a community engagement with congregants of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Mmofrafadwene in the Denkyembour District of the Eastern region, Mr Ernest Eli Kwame Billy, the District NCCE Director, said despite challenges, the Commission had performed satisfactorily with the support of other stakeholders.

Speaking on the theme: ’30 years of consolidating constitutional democracy: Building national cohesion through civic education and participation in local governance,’ Mr Billy urged the citizenry to guard against any form of violation of the constitution as stipulated in article three to strengthen the country’s democracy.

He said the populace must endeavour to live in peace with each other and report any crime or suspicious character with the tendency to undermine the country’s peace and democracy.

The engagement is part of activities marking the 2023 Constitution Week celebration.

Mr Billy informed the congregants that there would soon be Assembly and Unit Committee elections and urged those eligible to fully participate in them.

He said their participation was necessary to bring development to the grassroots.

He reminded them that the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections were non-partisan.

Touching on some of the roles of Assembly and Unit Committee members as enshrined in the Local Governance Act, Act 936 and Local Government (Urban, Zonal and Town Councils and Unit Committees) Establishment Instrument 2010, Mr Billy said an Assembly member was expected to maintain close contact with the electoral area of the Assembly, consult the people on issues to be discussed in the Assembly, collate their views, opinions, and proposals, and present same to the Assembly.

He said an Assembly member must also maintain frequent liaison with organised productive economic groupings and other persons in the District, and take part in communal and development activities.

For Unit Committee members, the District Director said they were responsible to the Assembly through the Urban, Zonal or Town Councils.

He said the Commission would continue to deliver on its mandate and called on all stakeholders for support.

Source: Ghana News Agency

SES HD PLUS, a premium satellite broadcast service provider and marketer of the HD+ TV service, has ended its HD+ Installer Training Programme for the first half of 2023.

Since embarking on this initiative and its establishment in Ghana in 2020, the company had trained and opened employment opportunities for over 10,000 youth.

This installer programme falls in line with the company’s goal to create employment opportunities in Ghana and ensure HD+ users have their HD+ devices and accompanying satellite equipment professionally installed by accredited technicians.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of its recent training programme, which saw 2000 youth pass out successfully, CEO of SES HD PLUS, Adelaide Abbiw-Williams congratulated them on their achievement while encouraging them to go out there and make a difference.

”Since SES HD PLUS was launched in Ghana, our desire has not only been to give our subscribers the FeeliFeeli experience of quality HD TV viewing experiences, but to also be at the forefront of accelerating socio-economic growth.

‘Critical to us is the transfer of our knowledge about the latest trends and innovations in satellite TV broadcasting and applying that to develop the skills and knowledge of our local partners, satellite technicians, and dealers to empower local businesses and communities economically.

‘So far, we have trained over 2000 installers in 22 towns across the country since March this year, and this brings us to a total of about 10,000 installers trained thus far.

Andrews Allottey, a beneficiary of the training programme, thanked HD+ for the opportunity. ”It is tough to make ends meet nowadays, but learning a trade offers one a competitive advantage.

‘That is the opportunity and advantage HD+ has given me and countless others throughout this period. We thank HD+ for the critical role they play in Ghana’s socio-economic development.

‘For HD+ subscribers, I want to assure them that with what we have learned, their devices will be in capable hands. HD+ has really given us the FeeliFeeliexperience, and we will surely pass that on to them,” he stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Fotsou has called on the youths of the North West Region to embrace peace, hard work, and resilience in order to build a brighter future for themselves and generations to come.

This was on May 12 at the campus of the University of Bamenda, while officially launching the civilian component of activities leading up to the National Day, on May 20. The theme of this year’s 20th May celebration is “Defense forces and Cameroon people in harmony to safeguard peace and national unity, bedrock to a strong and prosperous Cameroon”.

The Minister stated that “the theme of this year is based on that synergy, harmony between the defense forces and the Cameroonian people. This locality chosen is the testimony of living together and also national unity”

The event saw the presence of the Minister |Delegate at the Presidency in charge of the Supreme State Audit, Mrs. Mbah Acha Rose.

This was another opportunity for the minister to hand out government support to youths within the framework of President Paul Biya’s three years special youth plan, a program that has funded over 500 youth projects in this part of the country since 2017.

A symbolic number of youth biometric cards, National flags, and other national symbols, were also handed to youth groups and others in view of empowering the youth and sensitizing them on the laws of the nation and institutions.

It should be noted that this launching comes after the inauguration of two multipurpose youth empowerment centers in Baligham and Bamendakwe this Thursday, May 13.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Final year pupils in various primary schools across the country are in full focus as they begin their official end of year exams.

Common entrance and entree en sixième examinations begin this Thursday May 11th 2023 and candidates are doing final touches in group as well as individual studies in order to maximize their chances of succeeding the exams.

“I am Steve, pupil of Class 6 at Government Bilingual Primary school Babadjou Toumaka. I am preparing for my common entrance exams that will take place on Thursday. To succeed, I do revisions in school and at home,” a class 6 pupil told us 24 hours to exam time.

When asked if he is confident he will succeed, Steve tells us he is.

“I am sure I will succeed because I did succeed in the mock exams and the lessons are easy.”

On their part, head teachers and teachers are confident that their pupils will make them proud judging from their performances in the mock exams.

The head teacher of Government Bilingual Practicing School Babadjou Toumaka, says he knows that his pupils will be successful because all instructions given are respected to the letter and the school put in place a preparatory system that also involved the psychological aspects.

“The children are confident of themselves because we made them so. The psychological preparation is there. We tell them that what they will meet during the exam will not be strange. They are things we teach them everyday and in which they score high. To make sure our strategy works out, we do revisions,” Aloysius, head teacher of the school tells us.

“I will estimate a 90% success rate because you know many of our children are from the restive North West and South West regions. These children are traumatized either with the distances they cover each week to reach school or with the environment in which they find themselves. With this we only have to boost them morally and give them full psychological support, ” Aloysius adds.

Teachers on their part are aware of the stakes of the exams and say the instructions given by hierarchy are strictly followed.

“As you can see we are fully engaged in revising the mock exams. We don’t know what the real exam will reserve but we are hopeful that 90% of the lessons we revise will appear in the exams,” declares a class 6 teacher.

The Common Entrance Examinations are taken by final year school pupils in Cameroon as part of selective admissions process into secondary schools.

After the common entrance, the pupils will have a month before they face their final examination: the First School Leaving Certicate.

Source: Cameroon News Agency