Government to establish five STEM universities in newly created regions

The Government has announced plans to establish five Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) universities in the country’s five newly created regions as part of efforts to expand science and technology education.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader policy to promote STEM education at all levels and increase enrolment in science-related disciplines.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, disclosed the plan during the investiture of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Professor Eric Nyarko-Sampson, and the induction of the university’s Registrar, Mrs Mary Abena Agyepong, at Somanya.

According to Rev. Ntim Fordjour, the government has already allocated funding to begin the establishment of the five universities this year.

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He said the project aligns with the government’s objective of strengthening STEM education across the country and developing a sustainable pipeline of students from the pre-tertiary to the tertiary level.

The Deputy Minister also revealed that the government is constructing 10 STEM senior high schools and a STEM Academy to support science education at the pre-tertiary level.

He explained that the investments are aimed at achieving the national target of a 60:40 ratio in favour of science and technology programmes over humanities by 2030, compared with the current 40:60 ratio, which favours humanities.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour assured the management of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development that its proposal to develop the institution into a STEM-focused university would receive prompt consideration.

The management of UESD appealed to the government to support the university’s efforts to become a centre of excellence for STEM education.

The university also requested assistance to establish a basic school for the children of staff, improve transport services and expand accommodation facilities for both students and employees to enhance teaching and learning.