In a concerted effort to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, students from the Ho West district of the Volta Region went on an educational tour to Russian house in Accra. The tour was designed to provide crucial exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by local leadership to harness the potential of the youth and prepare them for a technology-driven future.
The tour, details of which have been confirmed by the office of the Member of Parliament for Ho West through Ghana News Agency (GNA), is part of a broader strategy to improve academic excellence and technical literacy at the basic and secondary school levels. This follows similar successful interventions, including an annual Tech Festival for ICT Teachers and the BaSAQ-C (Ho West Basic Schools Annual Quiz Competition), which has historically fed students into tertiary science and engineering programs.
“We are moving beyond the classroom walls,” a spokesperson for the MP’s office stated regarding the tour. “The goal is to show the students of Ho West what is possible. We want them to see the tangible outcomes of the subjects they study—from engineering design to digital arts and drone technology.”
Leadership Commitment to STEM Education
The educational tour was facilitated with the support of the Office of the Member of Parliament for Ho West, Hon. Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah. Local education authorities confirmed that the tour aligns with ongoing district-wide efforts to improve academic outcomes and prepare students for a technology-driven future.
The participating schools were Awudome Senior High School, Dzolo Senior High School, Kpedze Senior High School, Abutia Senior High Technical School, and Tsito Senior High Technical School.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency during the tour, a representative from the MP’s office emphasized that exposure is a critical component of STEM learning. “Ho West is committed to ensuring that our students are not left behind in the national drive toward industrialization and technological advancement,” the representative stated. “This tour is one of several planned interventions to show our young people that STEM careers are accessible and rewarding.”
Bridging the Digital Divide
The push for experiential learning in Ho West comes at a critical time for Ghana’s educational sector. According to the Ghana Education Service (GES), initiatives that supplement classroom learning are essential for shaping the nation’s future. In similar national programs, such as the Telecel Digitech Academy, there has been a significant emphasis on ensuring that access to digital skills does not depend on location or socioeconomic background.
For the students of Ho West, this educational tour is expected to provide hands-on exposure to emerging technologies. This mirrors the training modules seen in national tech festivals, which include Basic Programming, Engineering Design, Virtual Reality (VR), and Digital Arts—skills that Volta Regional Director of Education, Francis Agbemadi, recently described as indispensable tools for progress.
“The rapid pace of global innovation demands that teachers and students alike embrace lifelong learning,” Mr. Agbemadi noted at a previous tech event. “By the time a student completes a four-year degree, the world they trained for may already belong to history”.
A Call for Systemic STEM Expansion
The activities in Ho West have drawn praise from regional educational authorities. However, they have also highlighted the need for systemic support. During the closing ceremony of the Ho West Tech Festival last year, Volta Regional Director Francis Agbemadi called on the government to establish dedicated STEM schools across the region .
While the national government is rolling out Basic Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (BSTEM) programs and commissioning ICT centers powered by renewable energy in other parts of the country, Agbemadi stressed that the Volta Region lacks a dedicated STEM school to nurture the creativity and innovation evident in districts like Ho West .
“The Volta Region is blessed with immense creativity and innovation, yet we still lack a dedicated STEM school to nurture this potential,” Mr. Agbemadi previously stated. “I therefore urge the authorities to establish at least three STEM schools in the region to unlock the ingenuity of our young people and drive national development” .
Future Outlook
As the students return from their educational tour this month, they bring back not just memories, but practical insights into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With the eLearning Africa conference scheduled to take place in Accra in June 2026, Ghana is positioning itself as a hub for educational innovation. For the students of Ho West, the message from local leadership is clear: they are being trained not just to participate in the digital economy, but to lead it .
The MP’s office has confirmed that this tour is the first of several planned excursions for the academic year, aiming to ensure that every student in the district has the opportunity to experience technology in action.
Source: GNA