Ashesi University has partnered Practical Education Network (PEN), a Ghana-based NGO focused on STEM teacher training, to distribute 600 PEN science manuals to basic public school teachers in the Ga East and Akuapem South districts.
The initiative is part of Ashesi’s commitment to giving back to society and promoting practical STEM education at the grass-roots level.
The donated PEN science manuals which are hands-on science resource manuals, approved by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), are designed to make STEM learning more interactive and aligned with the national curriculum for basic one through to six.
Practical Activities in the PEN Science Manuals
The manuals include practical activities that use everyday materials, such as plastic bottles, rubber bands and straws, to teach core scientific concepts.
Over a seven-day period, PEN facilitated the distribution of the manuals and conducted mini-orientation sessions for teachers across both districts.
Teachers were grouped into clusters, and each session lasted approximately two hours, during which they engaged in hands-on activities from the manuals.
These sessions allowed teachers to experiment with practical techniques, fostering discussions on how to integrate these activities into their lesson plans.
Teachers, who participated in the orientation sessions expressed their excitement about the new teaching tools.
Methods
Under the partnership, over 200 teachers have been equipped with new methods for teaching STEM, which will benefit thousands of students in the Ga East and Akuapem South districts.
With the PEN Science manuals, it is expected that children would gain a deeper understanding of science concepts, sparking their interest in STEM fields.
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Practical Education Network, Dr Heather Beem, said: “Hands-on learning is at the core of our mission because we have seen how effective it is in boosting student engagement and retention in STEM subjects.
“Collaborations with institutions such as Ashesi University allow us to scale our impact and reach more teachers and students across Ghana,” she said.
She said PEN’s collaboration with Ashesi University underscored a shared vision to make quality STEM education accessible.
“We are grateful to Ashesi University for their support,” she said, adding that “Together, we will empower every African child to learn by doing.”