Area
Social
GOAL(s)
Summary (description and reason to be)
The Advance Science and Technology Education (ASTECH-Edu) project is a long-term initiative under HERPol-Africa to address the UN sustainable development goal on education, health and environmental hygiene. The project aimed at fostering interest in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) for children of all ages especially those in underserved communities. The reason for this project is to ensure and bring out the best out of the children of all school going age for the betterment humanity. The project will also provide framework for guiding students about their studies and their health and well-being. It would inform students of what is expected of them in their studies and prepare them for assessment. As quality education will teach the students to understand and know their health conditions and the need to keep the environment clean.
Target: Vulnerable Group (VG) and/or type of community
Children of school going age in the Rural and Urban communities in Northern Region (SHS-JHS).
Application setting: context
This project is implemented in the North to enhance quality education in our satellite remote communities in Ghana. This will also ensure the ability to use learned materials in new and concrete situations; this may include the application of rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws, and theories.
Objectives
Some of the key objectives are:
• To satisfies basic learning needs and enriches the lives of learners and their overall experience of living;
• To produce quality human capital and brilliant graduates in all disciplines in Ghana;
• Expand early childhood care and education;
• Achieve Universal primary education;
• Ensure equal access to learning for students and life skills for youth and adults;
• Achieve 50% reduction in levels children and adults’ illiteracy;
• Achieve gender parity and quality;
• Improve the quality of education and ensure measurable learning outcomes for all.
Requirements
Qualify candidates for this project are those from Junior High School level and Senior High School level. They are the targeted beneficiaries for now but the organisation would extend the project in future to cover up to tertiary institutions across the all the 16 regions in Ghana.
Performance procedures
With regards to performance procedures, all students would rate according to their performance in class exercise, class test, and examination score, these are the elements to determine the performance level of each beneficiary student. However, performance guide might vary due to unforeseen conditions, but the rules and guidelines for the project would be flexible and very friendly because the project is implemented on non-formal bases. This project is implemented alternatively to help young people to achieve their desired goals and attain academic excellence.
Activities
• Promoting education through public awareness;
• Inter institutional dialogue;
• Capacity building and training.
Results
The project has impacted more than 35% of students in the northern region, of which 35 Senior High Schools and Junior High Schools have reached.
Strengths
• This prepares the youth to embrace their fears and their confidence level;
• Beneficiaries are willing and interested in learning;
• The project hired professional tutors to deliver quality service;
• Availability of learning materials for a successful project coordination and implementation.
Weaknesses
• Limited project timelines;
• Lack of funds to sustain the project;
• Inadequate computer laboratories to combine student in one single class room unit for teaching, as majority of the students do not own a laptop.
Difficulties or constrains for its implementation
The major challenge faced by this project is lack of modern technological tools and apparatus to do detail practical work relating to engineering assignments, Science and technology. There is no enough space to carry out practical’s sessions.
CRITERIA actors or stakeholder are using to assess it as a “good practice”
After a thorough engagement of some actors in the region, pertinent to the project timelines, objectives and aims, the stakeholders did share their opinions about the project and said is a good and influential project that needs to be executed. Government level stakeholders from the Ministry of Education urged that they would support with some basic items to serve as a foundation for this great initiative of HERPol-Africa.
Year and length (duration)
Two years duration, since 2021.
Comments (additional info, remarks)
HERPol-Africa ASTECH-EDU project has helped develop students’ careers in the Northern part of Ghana. This would continue to fine-tune students’ skills necessary for a full-time research work.
References (Bibliography, URLs, suggested readings)
HERPol-Africa.org
https://www.iosrjournals.org/
