STEM is the future, we must invest in it – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has emphasised the importance of sustained investment in STEM education for Ghanaian children.

Dr. Apaak, who joined his boss, the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, and President John Mahama at the launch of STEM boxes for basic schools, was upbeat about the immense contribution the innovations will make in Ghana’s education.

“I joined the H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, the Honorable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, key stakeholders, as well as pupils and their teachers at the launch of the STEMBOX yesterday at the Osu Presby in Accra,” Dr. Apaak said in a Facebook post on Friday.

He added, “I have stated at several events, where I represented the Honorable Minister, that STEM is the future. The Ministry of Education is working to expand access to STEM-focused education across the country.”

Dr. Apaak stressed that expanding learning facilities is essential to ensure that every Ghanaian child benefits.

“For our dear nation, Ghana, to move forward and for our children to thrive in the future, we must engage in sustained investment in STEM,” he said.

The remarks come as President John Dramani Mahama officially launched Ghana’s new STEM learning boxes for basic schools on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the Osu Presby in Accra. The initiative aims to cultivate inquiry, problem-solving, and curiosity at the foundational stage of education.

“Our tools are made by Ghanaians for Ghanaian children. The STEM boxes we are launching today are far more than just learning tools,” President Mahama said, highlighting that all kits are locally designed and manufactured.

He explained that early exposure to STEM would equip young learners to drive national development in the decades ahead.

“If we ignite their curiosity at that level, if we do it early, we build a generation that is capable of leading Ghana into a technologically advanced future,” he added.

The President also referenced global examples of successful early-stage STEM programs in countries like Finland, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, noting that Ghana’s initiative mirrors their strategies but with a crucial distinction: domestic production of the learning tools.

President Mahama highlighted that the STEM boxes strengthen Ghana’s education system while fostering local innovation and industry. He emphasised that children are central to national advancement and that the launch represents a milestone in aligning Ghana’s education model with the demands of a technology-driven world.

The STEM boxes, according to both the President and Dr. Apaak, are not only practical educational tools but also symbols of a commitment to nurturing Ghanaian ingenuity from the earliest stages of learning.