Need to focus on technology

Ghana must teach more science and technology in its schools if it is to make a leap in development, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in its latest country report. ‘The Ghana Human Development Report’ suggests that academia, and public and private policy makers implement a broad-based information technology (IT) programme that emphasis teaching, especially at the lower school levels. In particular, the report says, English and Mathematics need to receive greater attention as most students are “weak” in these subjects. In addition, the report suggests that Ghana increase its IT funding because over the last 20 years it has spent on average 0.3 percent o its GDP annually in this area. A 1980 plan outlined by West African states recommends 1 percent of GDP should be spent on IT. Nevertheless, Ghana has progressed over the last decade in terms of the UNDP’s Human Development Index, a composite figure measuring life expectancy, educational levels and income levels. Ghana now ranks as a “medium human development” country whereas it had “low human development” status in 1993. In addition, the percentage of Ghanaians living in poverty is now 40 percent, from 52 percent in 1992, the report says. [For more complete information see http://www.undp.org/dpa/frontpagearchive/2001/may/24may01/index.html]