The Centre President of the Africa Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana, Dr. Prince Osei, has disclosed that the institute is set to roll out an online programme to encourage girls to develop an interest in mathematics.

Speaking at the launch of the Institute's ten years anniversary and International Day of Mathematics celebration under the theme: “Mathematics Unite", he noted that the programme is also aimed at breaking the perception about mathematics being a male-dominated field of study.

He further explained that the initiative is to encourage female students to learn mathematics and pursue careers in mathematics-related fields.

“Maths and science, in general, has benefitted a lot from diversity so we need the diversity and inclusion. So we need to make a deliberate effort to encourage more females to come into mathematics and science and that is what we are doing at AIMS," he stated.

Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour also at the program said efforts are being made to facilitate the achievement of the initiative by AIMS Ghana.

He said the ministry is going to create Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) schools across the country to increase female participation in STEM as part of the government’s advocacy to transform education to be equipped in artificial intelligence and robotics.

"Many barriers are preventing females from fully participating in STEM disciplines so some structural efforts will have to be made to make it more attractive to be able to attract females to get in to be able to get the gender parity of one,” the Deputy Minister said.

According to him, he is looking forward to having fifty Ph.D. mathematics scholars trained in the next five years.

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences also intends to extend this initiative to rural areas.