Many young women in Ghana discontinue their education due to marriages, pregnancies, and other gender-based social responsibilities.
As part of activities to mark International Women in Engineering Day, the KNUST Technology Consultancy Centre International Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (TCC-CIMET) reached out to more than two hundred young ladies in basic and second cycle schools in the Kumasi metropolis to consider careers in engineering.
The mentorship outreach and career guidance was under the theme: “enhanced by engineering”.
It was in collaboration with UNESCO, Women in Engineering Ghana (WiNE - Ghana) and Ghana TVET service.
Participating schools included Amankwatia A and B Junior High School, T.I. Ahmadiyya Junior High School B, Benstel School System, Grace Baptist Junior High School, New Asafo M/A Junior High School, and Kumasi Technical Institute Girls.
Ing. Dr. Mrs. Bennetta Komson from the Department of Materials Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) says the day aims to highlight the significant contributions of women to the engineering field and promote gender diversity in STEM.
“We are thriving on technology so if we have more women and more creatives, and train more people to be independent and hold the future of engineering, it will be beneficial. We just aim to secure the future of engineering with women at heart.
“More often, women as they climb their academic ladder get stuck on the way due to social responsibilities. And the field is hectic, so they fall out. What we do will have women present themselves at the table and bring their creativity to bear,” she said.
Ashanti Regional Director for Ghana TVET service Eric Asamoah observes improvement in girls in STEM education in the region and charged stakeholders to do more.
“The act of TVET 2020 has given the opportunity to young girls to enter the field of engineering, aside from that they are encouraged to take the course of electrical engineering, building construction, craftsman and other skills and they have been encouraged by their mentors.
“However, there are still challenges in statistics out of every hundred engineers, only a few Ladies, therefore we are working around the clock for other intervention programs to support and collaborate for higher engineering participation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Director of Innovations and Technology Transfer at TCC-CIMET, Dr Eric Opoku Osei, lauded the strides of women in research.
“At the Centre at TCC, women are leading the font, coming up with brilliant researchers and changing the narrative. I am glad this day has been dedicated to appreciating their works and giving them their flowers,” he said.
