We leave women out of science at our peril – Prince Armah

Women in Ghana, according to the Global Education Monitoring Team in 2018, make up less than a quarter of all science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates, said a Kwesimintsim MP.

According to Dr Prince Armah, evidence from the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation in 2018 showed that, out of a total of 5,573 researchers in public research institutions, only 1,452, or 26.1%, were women.

As if that were not enough, out of 233 scientists in nuclear sciences identified in 2018, only 23.2% were women.

The first time an MP made these comments to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science commemorated on 11^e February every year.

Dr Prince Armah said the under-representation of women in professional and academic activities, especially in the sciences, could pose a major risk to the country’s future.

“We are currently in the midst of a technological revolution which has made science an integral part of our personal lives and our national destinies. We cannot afford to leave women behind. In fact, we cannot move forward without them, ”he said in the statement.

According to him, “women were systematically excluded from many mainstream activities, including the right to formal education.

He added: “It created a self-perpetuating myth about the supposed abilities of women, which in turn led to further discrimination and exclusion.”

He said the country cannot continue to prevent most of our people from contributing to such an important endeavor, insisting that “we are depriving ourselves of talents and innovations that can change the world”.

Dr Prince Armah, who is also an advocate for inclusive education, admits that attempts have been made in the past to reduce the yawning gap between men and women in the pursuit of STEM education and prospects for career, but there is still a long way to go.

“I believe what we will need to do is address inequity in STEM education in relation to gender stereotypes, deprivation, rurality and disability in STEM education and careers, especially in poor districts. served by STEM learning and other scientific engagements Activities.

Explaining why it is important to have increased participation of women in STEM, Dr Armah said: “Educating women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is imperative from three perspectives based on empirical studies on gender and STEM. The first perspective is that of human rights – the need for all to be educated and to benefit from equal opportunities.

“The second perspective is scientific – women drive scientific results in terms of diversity, creativity, reduction of prejudices, and promotion of solid knowledge and solutions. The third perspective is development, that is, the ability of men and women to acquire knowledge and take advantage of STEM opportunities. In fact, research has shown that STEM fields are prerequisites for societal and individual progress.

Among the interventions needed to change the narrative, Dr Prince Armah said, “We need to expose our daughters to STEM and related career options as early as possible. We can do this through our natural interactions as parents, guardians and teachers… We can go back to Girls in Science programs or create new programs with similar missions.

“We can create STEM centers focused on women and girls. The important thing is to give the girls a chance to learn science, to interact with mentors and, if possible, to acquire basic skills in the field. This is what we did in Kwesimintsim when we organized a “Women in ICT” program to equip young women with basic ICT skills.

Women and girls have all the potential they need to be successful in science, they just need our support to start the journey.

In addition, MP for Kwesiminstim, who was also the former director general of the National Council for Programs and Evaluation (NaCCA), said the role of women in science and related fields should be highlighted at across the country to encourage young women.

“Across the country we have many exceptional women who are playing exceptional roles in science, including in the ongoing global battle against Covid-19. We need to show young women and girls that they are just as capable as their male counterparts, ”he said.

He was quick to applaud the organizers of the National Science and MathsQuiz for the consistent use of women as Quiz Masters and the conscious efforts to inspire women in science.

“The urgency of this task is beyond doubt. Ghana cannot be excluded from the scientific revolution sweeping the world. We can’t do this with a hand tied behind our back, so to speak. But that’s exactly what we’ll be doing if we don’t involve more women in science. This is why this day is particularly important. We must not miss the opportunity it offers us to reflect, revise and reorganize. In a generation, our daughters could be at the forefront of global innovation. It’s possible if we start now, ”he said.