President of Academic City College, Dr. Fred McBagonluri, has called on the government to have policies and programmes that support girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), to aid the development process of the country.
Dr. Fred McBagonluri argued that the educational system should focus on the study of STEM in the early stages of children’s development to make its learning easier for girls.
According to him, the socialization of kids should be science oriented to allow for an easy grasping of STEM-related courses.
“We have to be deliberate about our educational system, I think we have to start at a very early age putting together a promotional program that really shows the coolness of science and technology to women and girls in particular. I think the way we socialize them starting from when they are kids, even with the kind of toys they play with”.
“I think we need a fundamental reconfiguration of ourselves as parents, government and society in general. I think we should have special scholarship programs that help girls gravitate in that direction. I think even in the industry, we should come out with laws that allow women to be able to maintain their careers whilst having a family life”
Dr. Fred McBagonluri also called on government to institute scholarship packages, particularly for girls to advance their prospects and also to whip up STEM interests among the girl-child.
He further advocated for a law to protect women in STEM to be able to conveniently juggle their careers and their family lives as well.
Dr. McBagonluri explained that women are becoming a global majority, hence the need to intensify the study of STEM at the lowest levels of education.
He said women in this country are being done a great disservice by the country due to the lack of support by successive governments to make the study attractive.
The conversation about whipping up interest and involvement of more girls [STEM] is one that has gained popularity owing to the great strides some few women have made in it in the past.
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By: Jude Mensa Duncan/citinewsroom.com/Ghana