Former Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has insisted that the Basic Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (BSTEM) initiative being celebrated today was first rolled out under his leadership.
His comments follow the relaunch of the BSTEM programme in Sunyani earlier this week by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu.
The initiative is designed to equip basic school teachers with modern skills, digital tools, and innovative methods to make the teaching of science and mathematics more engaging and accessible.
At the launch, Mr Iddrisu noted that the idea had first been conceptualised under former Minister Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang between 2012 and 2016 but stalled until its revival this year.
However, responding to a question on Joy Learning, Dr Adutwum stressed that BSTEM had been formally introduced under his administration and not merely conceptualised.
“I just recently saw that BSTEM has been launched. But we launched it on November 1, 2024, at East Legon, Under-Bridge. If it has been launched again, that’s fine,” he said, adding that his team not only started the programme but also secured funding for it before leaving office.
He explained that while the original STEM policy under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo focused on senior high schools, BSTEM was specifically designed to extend those benefits to junior high and primary schools.
“I don’t think you can talk about STEM without acknowledging the work we did,” he noted, pointing to what he called the foundation of the country’s STEM and BSTEM revolution.
Dr Adutwum also highlighted other initiatives introduced during his tenure, including the establishment of new STEM-focused schools, transformation of selected public schools, and infrastructure upgrades at institutions such as St. Barnabas and Osu Presbyterian Secondary School.
He further cited progress in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and the introduction of new senior high school courses in Biomedical Science, Engineering, Aviation, and Aerospace.
Despite defending his record, Dr Adutwum commended Mr Iddrisu for continuing the programme, stressing that education policy must transcend partisan politics.
“Continuity is important,” he said. “Governments should focus on strengthening national initiatives that improve learning outcomes.”
Source: Alfred Ayizoe
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