By: Haruna Kuyateh, In NBR
Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), celebrated International Day for Girl aimed to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) through technical skills acquisition in Kerewan , North Bank Region recently.
The celebration was organized by the Directorate of Programme and Technical Unit at Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) in collaboration with Regional Education Directorate region.
The event was observed under theme: “With Her – A skilled Girl Force”. The International day of the Girl Child is observed by UN annually October 11 to promote and highlights the recognition of girls and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The move is in line with Global commitment of investing in adolescent girl’s empowerment and rights of enhancing Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 is to increase the number of youths and adults have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
The celebration is expected to increase girl’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math’s (STEM). The education policy 2016-2030 recognizes the important of STEM for skill development, innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and employability.
Mustapha Drammeh, retired education officer and technical adviser at gender unit, outlined MoBSE commitment of promoting girls involvement and participation in skills acquisition to bridge gender gap on metal work, woodwork, arts and craft.
He pointed out that these skills were known to be dominated by male child (boys), noting that MoBSE opening technical and vocational skills to contribute in building human resource development on skills.
He called on girl students to take up technical subjects as life long career, while he assured government commitment to gender equity and equality in advancing skill development.
Ebrima KS Dampha, governor of North Bank Region also underscored government commitment to enhance effective teaching and learning of technical education in schools to strengthen the human resource development on technical education.
According to him, United Nation Girl Education Initiative UNGEI is a skilled for girl force aimed to make skills acquisition to gender responsive to teaching and learning to enable girls to develop the foundation, transferable and job specific skills needed for life and work.
Governor Dampha reiterated that the program would contribute to change stereotypes, social norms and unconscious bias in relation to gender roles and enable girls to have the same learning and career opportunities as boys.
Basiru Mbenga, regional education director noted that technical education is a corner stone, as it would enhance skill trade are open to all student irrespective of social status.
He challenges girls to be role model in society by taking up technical education as carrier development on skill and proof out the potential they have.
Mariama F Jammeh a student from Sittanunku Upper and Senior Secondary School commended MoBSE for providing technical education at schools.
She noted that there is need for MoBSE to provide adequate tools, equipment and materials to enable student write to WASCE. But the current situation in Sittanunku Upper and Senior Secondary doesn’t allow them to write to WASCE.
Malang Beyai, metal work teacher noted that technical subjects are taught from grade 7 -12, but due to limited tools the school is not qualify by WAEC.
He called for more support by government and development partners to strengthen the rolling out of technical education in schools.
