The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has endorsed the idea of constituting science and technology education committees in all regions and districts to offer support, guidance, mobilize and redirect resources to support science and technology education. Mr. George Hikah Benson, Upper West Regional Minster, who said this, expressed the hope that this initiative would receive the support of all stakeholders so that the youth would be empowered with skills to use science and technology to find solutions to their problems. He was addressing the closing session of this year’s Science, Technology and Mathematics (STME) clinic for 293 students including 190 girls from selected Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the region. The STME clinic programme was introduced in 1987 for girls, with the main objective of promoting gender balance in the study and application of science in order to bridge the wide gap that existed between boys and girls in the field of science and technology education. However, as time went on, boys were also included in the programme. Mr Benson urged the youth to accept the study of science and technology as a challenge of the fast changing world and globalization that made scientific and technological literacy indispensable. "There is even the need for all citizens to acquire some level of scientific literacy that allows them to understand the world around them and act responsibly in daily life". He asked the private sector to develop interest in supporting the development of science and technology while at the same time placing value on scientific and technological innovations. Mr. Cletus Paaga, the Regional Director of Education suggested that subsequent clinics should be organized at the district level to cut down on costs and also enable many students to benefit. Source: GNA