The construction of the proposed facility, he explained, was to honour the late Dr. Omane Boamah, an old student of the school, for his loyalty and dedication to the service of Ghana.

“As we launch this BSTEM project today, I am happy on behalf of the government of President Mahama to assure the good people of Koforidua that the government will build a modern dedicated science laboratory in honour of the late Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah,” Haruna Iddrisu said.

He was speaking in Sunyani in the Bono Region on Monday [August 18, 2025] at the inauguration of the Basic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM) teacher training reports Graphic Online’s Biiya Mukusah Ali.

Gov’t to introduce STEM subjects from basic level

He said the government will revolutionise Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education from the foundation level in the new curriculum review.

As part of that, artificial intelligence (AI), engineering, coding, robotics, among others, will feature prominently at the foundation level in the new curriculum to make Ghanaian students competitive and to secure their future.

“We want to revolutionise STEM at the basic level to secure the future of our schoolchildren. I must first thank the Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who first conceptualised the idea,” the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said.

BSTEM project

The launch brought together hundreds of students from senior high schools (SHSs) in the region.

The effort is aimed at equipping teachers with modern skills, digital tools, and innovative pedagogies to make STEM exciting and accessible to basic school-level learners.

It is also targeted at whipping up the interest of students at an early age and igniting their curiosity, creativity, and confidence to drive national development.

The project was launched in partnership with the Ministry of Education and itec Global, and is expected to benefit 8,800 teachers and 4,400 schools across the country.

Revive

Mr Iddrisu said the government had revived the BSTEM project, which had stalled for several years, to achieve its full potential.

He said the new curriculum had been carefully designed to create pathways for the learners to identify and develop their talents early.

“We are moving away from rote memorisation towards enquiry, problem-solving, and creativity, which will give every Ghanaian child the opportunity to nurture his or her potential, whether in science, technology, the arts, or entrepreneurship,” he said.

Mr. Iddrisu said the project represented one of the ministry’s most important priorities, strengthening STEM education from the basic level, where the foundation of learning was laid.

He recalled that between 2012 and 2016, under the leadership of Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who served as Minister of Education, a committee was established to review the challenges confronting the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in schools, particularly at the basic level.

Mr Iddrisu explained that out of that critical review, the Basic Science and Mathematics project was born to address the challenges directly.

“Over time, the project evolved to reflect global educational trends and to embrace the full breadth of STEM. This transformation led to the BSTEM project, which we are gathered here today to advance,” he said.

Mr. Iddrisu, however, said no matter how well designed, a curriculum could not succeed without modern teacher training that equips teachers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to deliver STEM at all levels, hence the BSTEM programme.

Government ambition

The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Ernest Kofi Davies, said the aim of the government was to provide quality, accessible and relevant education to produce 21st-century graduates with balanced knowledge, skills, attitude and values.

He said the current education system focused on training entrepreneurs, innovators, life-long learners and global citizens.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

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The solemn ceremony took place on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the Koforidua-based all-boys SHS, with management and students in attendance.

They sang hymns and offered prayers for the departed soul.

Dr. Boamah was killed along with eight others in a ghastly helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

The Z-9 military helicopter was en route from Accra to Obuasi when the incident occurred.

Other victims included Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress; Mr. Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; as well as Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah of the Ghana Armed Forces.

In June 2025, Dr. Omane Boamah returned as guest speaker for the 67th Anniversary celebration and Speech and Prize-Giving Day of his alma mater, 36 years after completing his sixth form education.

At the event, the former Communications Minister pledged to sponsor a Visual Arts student to study architecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The decision was made after the student sketched and presented a portrait of the minister in appreciation of his contributions toward the development of the school.

Source: Adomonline.com

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They have qualified from a hard-won victory over the 2023 runner-up Abuakwa State College.

Abuakwa State gave Pope John a run for their money when they took charge and determined the pace of the competition in the first two rounds.

Abusco ended the first round with 22 points ahead of Pope John’s 17 points.

They extended the lead in the second round with just two points, ending with 24 points. Pope John also accrued 3 more points to end with 20 points, closing the gap with a point.

But, in the true or false round, Pope John brought their A-game to play and gained 16 points to end the round on 36 points. Abuakwa on the other hand added only 10 to theirs, totaling 34.

With a 2-point lead now, it has become Pope John’s game to lose, with their pride as defending champions at stake.

Fortunately for them, they answered the third riddle of the fourth round, on the last clue and got three additional points. Abuakwa State College also attempted the last riddle and got it right. But, unfortunately, that was not enough to get them through.

Pope John SHS and Minor Seminary have the breakthrough with 39 points at the end of the day. Abuakwa was relegated to second place with 34 points.

Suhum SHTS and Manya Krobo SHS came 3rd and 4th with 28 and 17 points respectively.

Pope John has an opportunity to attempt another shot at defending their title in the semifinal.

SEMI FINALS

The first semifinal round will be a Koforidua love affair between Pope John SHS and Minor Seminary, Koforidua Sec. Tech, and “beacons of the east” Ghana SHS, Koforidua.

The second fixture will be between three-time regional and national champions, St. Peters SHS, Presby SHS, Suhum, and Benkum SHS.

Winners from these two competitions and the second-placed highest-scoring school will proceed to the grand finale to battle it out for the trophy and a cash prize of GHC 4000.00 from the sponsors, GOIL PLC.

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They managed to escape defeat by their hair’s breath after Abuakwa State College (ABUSCO), who entered the finals as the top runners-up at the semi finals, gave them a good run for their money.

The yellow-shirted boys in Eastern region’s Effiduase are hoping to clinch their second national trophy to end their twenty-two-year trophy drought.

The school won its last national trophy in 2001 and has since not qualified to at least the finals of the competition.

The last round of the competition saw a nip-and-tuck bout between Pope John SHS (POJOSS) and ABUSCO after the latter went two points ahead of POJOSS in the third round.

But the “Vela Damus” boys lived up to their school’s motto, setting sail ahead of their closest contender after whisking one of the riddles.

They won the final regional championship contest with 34 points while ABUSCO came behind them with 32 points.

Three-time national champions, St. Peter’s SHS wallowed at third position with 17 points.

Many had tipped a stiff competition between Pope John SHS and St. Peter’s SHS after the two schools pulled an impressive performance at the semi-finals stage.

But PERSCO appeared lost in the final contest as they failed to bring their A-game.

Shouting “El Regreso”, the boys from POJOSS are optimistic of a better performance at the nationals as they anticipate their first appearance at the finals of this year’s tournament after many years.

Meanwhile, it is the 30th anniversary since the inception of the annual quiz competition.

As the regional championship closes, organizers of the all-time favorite academic decathlon, Primetime Limited are promising exciting activities at the national competition slated for October 2023.