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Women
participation in science and technology:
Challenges, opportunities and way
forward
The President of the Tamale-based
Female ICT Teachers Association in Ghana (FICTTA),
Miss Angela Serwaa Boateng, has called on all women
in the fields of science and technology to make
themselves more visible to younger females who are
in need of inspiration and models.
Speaking at a forum organised to mark the International
Women’s day celebration at the Tamale Girls
Senior High School in Tamale, Boateng stated that
it is a proven fact that science and technology
help to empower women by improving their ability
to access information, education, services such
as market prices for crops, professional development
opportunities and tools to promote their health
and that of their families. She added that studying
science and technology leads to better paid employment
and increases women’s financial independence
and security.
On the challenges faced by women and young girls,
the FICTTA president mentioned that in senior high
schools, a girl is usually advised by members of
family, friends and teachers to take easier arts
subjects. The perceived difficult nature of science
and technology courses and the role of the school
where certain subjects are taught serve, are both
challenges. Boateng added that the attitudes of
teachers and guidance and counselling coordinators
also sometimes discourage girls from taking up the
study of science and technology.
Ghana’s Education Service has been running
a programme since 1987 known as the Science, Technology
and Mathematics Education (STME) Clinic for Girls,
which strives to increase the number of girls who
opt to study science at higher levels in educational
institutions.
Boateng mentioned that the goal of the STME is to
bridge the gender gap and maximise the potential
of Ghanaian women, with the ultimate aim of increasing
female representation in the field of science and
technology.
Boateng is part of the Female ICT Teachers Association
(FICTTA), which was formed by Savana Signatures
(www.savsign.org) and which supports girls and women
through regular capacity building in ICT, opportunities
to serve as role models to younger women, and opportunities
to network with the best science and technology
practitioners in the world.
She mentioned that introduction of ICT into the
schools syllabus is yet another great opportunity
that should be taken advantage of. She urged institutions
as GINKS, IICD, Savana Signatures, GIFEC, FICTTA,
Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence to vigorously
advocate for more female participation in ICT.
Boateng urged women in the country who are at the
forefront of ICT to be more visible in championing
the cause, and cited the examples of Dorothy Gordon
(Director General of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan
Centre of Excellence); Estelle Akofio Sowah (Country
Director, Google Ghana); and Eva Lokko (former Director
General, GBC) as examples of women who have achieved
and are at the forefront of ICTs. Boateng motivated
delegates at the event to be more visible and develop
their own programmes to encourage and support young
women.
Boateng also called for the following: |
- There should be strategies for promoting access
to science and technology education for women.
- There should be a higher degree of interaction
between boys and girls in science and technology
classes.
- Teachers should avoid criticisms that could
affect girls’ self-image or perception
of their capabilities to learn science.
- There should be forums on sex role awareness
so that students can understand and question
stereotypic attitudes and behaviours.
- Women and professional associations should
organise conferences and seminars around gender
issues in the practice of science and technology
education.
- There should be vocational remedial science
and technology courses for girls.
- Government should fund projects that are aimed
at promoting female participation in science
and technology.
- There should be public recognition of the
contributions of women in to science and technology,
through the award of national honours.
- There should be concrete moves to remove sex
stereotyping in science textbooks.
- There should be provision of adequate science
labs and facilities in schools as well as greater
remuneration for science and technology teachers
to boost their morale and increase their level
of commitment.
|
Also at the forum was
Dr Susan Dontwi, a paediatrician at the paediatric
department of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. She
spoke on the topic “Equal access to education
and training in science and technology” the
pathway to decent work for women”.
Dr Dontwi mentioned that real education should make
human beings noble and lead to social and economic
growth, with key factors including social, cultural,
physical, emotional and attitudes. She pointed out
that she is the only woman in her department, and
urged all the students present to take their studies
serious so that they could join her.
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