By Abdou Mbye
The Science and Technology Education Directorate (STED) of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE) on Monday, June 27th , started a nationwide research on Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. The purpose is to gauge the teaching and learning of STEM subjects in upper basic and senior secondary schools, the availability of teaching and learning resources vis-à-vis laboratories, teacher workload, teaching techniques, teacher content knowledge and skills, student performance; students, teachers and principals’ perception on STEM; and investment in STEM infrastructure; as well as STEM curriculum.
The research will help guide the Ministry develop informed future strategies and policies relating to STEM education. The research targets principals, STEM teachers, as well as mathematics and science students as respondents from 128 UBS and 109 SSS in The Gambia.
In an interview, the Director of Science and Technology Education Directorate (STED), Mr Bakary Ceesay expressed optimism that the research will elevate the status of STEM education in The Gambia. He said it allow them to have a benchmark and to advise government on interventions to improve STEM education in the country.
“The development of any country today is driven by Science and Technology and Gambia cannot afford to be left behind. We are encouraging the learning of Science and Mathematics or STEM in general, in schools for the development of the nation”, Ceesay elucidated.
Kaddy Bah, Principal Education Officer (PEO) Science and Technology Education Directorate (STED) intimated that a previous research was conducted in 2012, and that this one will help identify the gaps in terms of implementation and strategy.“The research findings will inform the sector on the status of STEM education and guide them to initiate responsive policies and strategies in connection to STEM”, she posited.
STEM is part of the global education transformative agenda meant, not only, to develop and promote the Sciences but also to advance socio-economic development of the country by building future experts and technocrats for sustainability.