The Dean of the School of Computing and Information Sciences at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Professor Edward Y. Baagyere, says the Upper East Region must become more intentional about science and technology education if it is to achieve meaningful development.
He says the interest and passion for science must be cultivated from the earliest stages of a child’s education rather than introduced when students are already making career choices.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Prof. Baagyere said teachers and the education system have a critical role in making science more practical, accessible and attractive to learners.
He argued that students who are not exposed early to science-related subjects may struggle to pursue science-based professions later in their academic journey.
According to him, the education system must therefore be redesigned to place greater emphasis on science, technology and practical learning from the primary level through to tertiary education.
“Science should be something that you are passionate for. So this passion can be generated right from your early days of schooling.”
Prof. Baagyere said practical experimentation should form an important part of science education, allowing children to understand how scientific concepts relate to their everyday lives.
He believes this approach could help remove the fear that some students develop towards subjects such as Mathematics and Chemistry, which he says can discourage them from pursuing science-related careers.
Reflecting on his own experience as a General Science student, Prof. Baagyere said science classes were often dominated by boys, with very few girls pursuing the subject.
He attributed part of the challenge to the way science concepts are introduced and taught at the early stages of education.
“We should really redimension our way of teaching science to make it very palatable, acceptable and well leveraged. So when they grow, they will be able to use it, apply it and understand it.”
The UTAS Dean also pointed to countries such as Japan, China and South Korea, as well as Rwanda, as examples of countries that have used science and technology as part of their development strategies.
He said the Upper East Region must similarly build a culture where young people see science and technology not as difficult subjects to avoid, but as tools for solving development challenges.
His comments formed part of a discussion on “The Future of Science and Technology Education in the Upper East Region: The Role of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences.”
The discussion comes as UTAS highlights its progress in teaching, learning, research and community service during its six years of existence.
The university says it won the National ENACTUS Competition four consecutive times from 2021 to 2024, beating institutions including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University for Development Studies.
UTAS subsequently represented Ghana on the global stage, with its team reaching the round of 16Â in competitions held in the Netherlands and Kazakhstan.
The university was also ranked 10th in Ghana in 2025Â based on its H-Index in the AD Scientific Index global ranking of higher education institutions.
UTAS says it maintained that position in 2026 before moving to 8th in the 2027 ranking.
Prof. Baagyere believes these developments must be matched with stronger efforts to inspire the next generation of scientists and technology innovators, particularly from the Upper East Region.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga
