Dr Apaak welcomes Coderina partnership to expand STEM education

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, has welcomed a partnership with Coderina to support the government’s efforts to expand STEM education nationwide.

He said the Ministry of Education values the organisation’s contribution to digital learning and innovation, particularly as the government undertakes reforms to equip learners with skills needed for the future economy.

Dr. Apaak made the remarks when Coderina donated IT kits to the Ministry of Education and outlined plans to establish centres of excellence in innovation and ICT, while also extending support to universities, secondary schools, and underserved communities across the country.

He said the partnership aligns with the government’s educational agenda under President John Dramani Mahama, especially ongoing efforts to review the national curriculum from kindergarten to junior high school.

“You may know that we are reviewing our curriculum from kindergarten to junior high school. And part of that review is to introduce coding, artificial intelligence, automation, and ICT to our learners, even at the basic level,” he said.

Dr. Apaak added that the government intends to make STEM education accessible to all learners regardless of where they live.

“Essentially, we want to decentralize and domesticate STEM. And we see you as a worthy partner in that effort,” he stated.

The Deputy Minister particularly commended Coderina’s decision to focus on Ghana’s geographic north, saying the move would help address long-standing inequalities in access to science and technology education.

He noted that many schools in the area lack even the basic facilities required to support STEM learning, making targeted interventions necessary.

“Many schools and many learners in the geographic north are disadvantaged when it comes to STEM and even the basics for them to learn STEM,” he said.

Dr. Apaak also endorsed the concept of mobile ICT laboratories, describing them as a practical interim solution while the government works to improve educational infrastructure nationwide.

“So the concept of the mobile ICT labs, I think, is one that is commendable,” he said, adding that schools were originally built without spaces dedicated to ICT and STEM laboratories.

He assured Coderina of the Ministry’s support and said the government would provide letters of introduction and recommendation to help the organisation secure private sector partnerships to advance its programmes.