WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND WAY FORWARD

The President of the Tamale based Female ICT Teachers Association (FICTTA), Miss Angela Serwaa Boateng has called on all women in the field of Science and Technology to make themselves more visible to younger females who might want to look up to them for inspiration and as role models.

Miss Angela said this at a forum organized to mark the International Women’s day celebration at the Tamale Girls Senior High School in Tamale.  She spoke on the theme; Women Participation in Science and Technology: Challenges, opportunities and the way forward.

She stated that it is a proven fact that Science and Technology help to empower women by improving their ability to Access information, Education, Services such as market prices for crops, Professional development opportunities and tools to promote their health and that of their families. She added that studying science and technology will lead to a better paid employment and increase women’s financial independence and security.

On the challenges faced by women and young girls, the FICTTA president mentioned that in senior high schools, a girl is usually advised by members of family, friends and teachers to take easier arts subjects. She added that the perceived difficult nature of Science and Technology courses and the role of the school where certain subjects, are taught serve as a challenge. She further added that the attitudes of teachers and guidance and counseling coordinators also do not encourage girls to take up the study of science and technology.

Speaking on opportunities available to girls, she stated that one main program which has been going on in Ghana since 1987 is the Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (STME) Clinic for Girls, initiated by the Ghana Education Service to help increase the number of girls who opt to study science at higher levels in educational institutions. She mentioned that the goal of the STME is to help bridge the gender gap and maximize the potentials of Ghanaian women, with the ultimate aim of increasing female representation in the field of science and technology.

She opined that her association, the Female ICT Teachers Association (FICTTA) also offered some opportunities to girls and women. She mentioned such opportunities as oopportunity for regular capacity building in ICT, an opportunity to serve as role models to younger ones and the opportunity to get networked with the best Science and Technology practitioners in the world.
She mentioned that introduction of ICT into the schools syllabus – from basic to University is yet another great opportunity that should be taken advantage of. She urged institutions as GINKS, IICD, Savana Signatures, GIFEC, FICTTA, Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence to vigorously advocate for more female participation in ICT.

She urged females in the country who are at the forefront of ICT to be more visible in championing the case for women participation in Science and Technology. She cited the examples of Dorothy Gordon – Director General, Ghana- India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence, Estelle Akofio Sowah – Country Director, google Ghana, Eva Lokko – Former director General, GBC as some examples of women who have achieved and are at the forefront of ICTs and urged them to be more visible and also come out with programs that can urge the younger ones on.

On the way forward, the FICTTA president called for the following:

• There should be strategies for promoting women and girls access to Science and Technology education.
•  There should be a high degree of interaction between boys and girls in Science and Technology classes.
• Teachers should avoid criticisms which could affect girls’ self-image or perception of their capabilities to learn science
• There should be forums on sex role awareness so that students  can understand and question stereotypic attitudes and behaviors
• Women and professional associations should organize conferences and seminars around gender issues in the practice of Science and Technology education,
• There should be vocational remedial courses for girls offering Science and Technology subjects
• Women into Science and Technology should be more visible so that young girls can look up to them.
• Government should fund projects that are aimed at promoting female participation in Science and Technology.
• Recognizing and publishing the contributions of women in Science and Technology through the award of national honors as well as making concrete moves to remove sex stereotyping in science textbooks will go a long way to help.
• There should be provision of adequate science labs and facilities in schools as well as remunerating Science and Technology teachers to boost their morale and increase their level of commitment

Also at the forum was Dr. Susan Dontwi, a pediatrician at the Pediatric department of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. She spoke on the topic “Equal access to education and training in science and technology; pathway to decent work for women. 

Dr. Susan mentioned that real education should make human beings noble and lead all to have social and economic growth. She mentioned some factors leading to the pathway to include social, cultural, physical, emotional and attitudes. She stated that at her department, she is the only female and urged all the students present to take their studies serious so that they could join her.