The government has started implementing a Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS), as part of the national effort to enhance the study of science and mathematics. This was announced by Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, on Monday at the launch of the website of the Ghana Mathematics Society in Accra. Ms Ayittey said the programme, which targeted needy but brilliant students in the second cycle and tertiary institutions, was aimed at increasing enrolment of students studying mathematics, Science and Technology in various institutions. "The beneficiaries have been selected and about 5,000 students will benefit from the scheme nationwide this 2010/2011 academic year," she said. Ms Ayittey said Ghana as a developing country recognised the role of science, mathematics, technology and allied innovations in national development. She said developed and industrialised countries achieved such advancement through the tools of science and technology. The minister said there was the need to identify obstacles in the learning of mathematics which might include the notion that mathematics was a difficult subject and only those who were naturally gifted could excel in it. Another reason might be the wrong methodologies that had turned many students away from mathematics classes at very tender ages. To achieve that feat "we need to make a conscious effort at encouraging its study and application". Ms Ayittey, therefore, called on mathematics teachers to adopt methodologies that would encourage, motivate, and make it more attractive to students. Dr John S. Annan, Deputy Minister of Education, said mathematics had been a challenge for many and appealed to mathematics teachers to bring in more innovative methods to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject. Ms Dorothy Gordon, Director, Kofi Annan ICT Training Centre, said this was the time to equip market women with the necessary tools to implement what they had already been doing. "Most market women think mathematics is difficult but they forget that every transaction they do involves mathematics," she said. Source: GNA