Ghanaian students have been encouraged to take keen interest in the study of science subjects in order to help in the development of the country.

Mrs. Phyllis Otu, the Head of Department (HoD), Science Laboratory Technology Department (SLTD), Accra Technical University (ATU), was addressing 113 Junior High School students who received a day’s practical laboratory training at the university.

She said her presence and other females in science-related fields were enough proof to erase the erroneous opinion that science was difficult and, therefore, should be reserved for boys. 

She said the programme was aimed at igniting in the youth  the passion for science, adding that the department would in the future follow up to the schools to find out how the students  fared  in the practical training received, and identify some of their challenges.

Mrs Otu said the department offered all science courses in the university and asked the students to remain focused in their studies but eschew negative tendencies and over relying on social media to the detriment of making use of their precious time.

The programme under the auspices of Science Laboratory  Technology Department (SLTD), of  the Accra Technical University in collaboration with ignite Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (iSTEM), a research group which assists students in  research activities, drew  students from Calvary Methodist JHS 1, Reverend Lartey Adotey Memorial School, both at Adabraka, and Labone SDA School, Accra..

The programme was under the theme “Contributing to the Scientific and Technological base of the Nation.”

The students who were divided into groups, were taught the components used in the preparation of alcohol, sanitizer, the extraction of DNA from banana and how to build a circuit to produce light.

Mr Bright Azumah, a lecturer in Biochemistry at ATU, and one of the facilitators who taught the students how to connect a battery to an L.E.D light source, use electrical energy to produce heat and mechanical energy among others, said the lessons learnt formed the foundation of building electrical devices including smart phones, building their own software and coming out with many inventions.

Mr Ayi Joshua Oku, the President of Science Laboratory Technology, ATU, reiterated the need for more students to study science and technology since it provided a lot of options and benefits to the nation.

Three participants, Alia Yusif and  Nadia Ahmed both students of Labone SDA School and Barikisu  Abubakar of  Reverend  Lartey  Adotey Memorial School, were grateful for the hands-on-laboratory experience they received, adding that they had been  inspired to pursue science at the higher level.

By Raymond Kyekye