Deputy Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Dr. Peter Quarshie, has urged the government to prioritise significant investments in the science and technology sector to ensure holistic training across all levels of the country’s educational system.
The call follows WACCBIP’s Open Science Day session held from September 18–19, 2025, where selected secondary school students were introduced to the operations of the Centre and the critical role science and technology play in the sustainable development of its practitioners and the local economy.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Univers News on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Quarshie emphasised that to produce well-prepared scientists capable of exerting influence both locally and internationally, state actors must deliberately channel resources into building world-class science and technology facilities. This, he noted, would help shift education from being overly theory-based to developing practical, job-ready skills for learners across the field.
“The aim of the Open Day sessions for selected students from secondary schools over the years has been to expose the next generation to the high level of scientific research and projects being implemented by Fellows on a more practical level. In Ghana, and on the continent as a whole, there are significant discrepancies in the provision of adequate teaching and learning facilities that support practical-based education. This situation risks being counterproductive to the knowledge acquisition process for both students and facilitators. Based on my own experience as an undergraduate and postgraduate student in the West, I suggest that the state must be deliberate and strategic in equipping schools at all levels with the requisite facilities and intensive training for both learners and teachers, so that science and technology can be appreciated through real-world applications.”
Dr. Quarshie also noted that over the years, WACCBIP’s collaborations and knowledge-sharing sessions with selected senior high schools have yielded some noticeable progress. Stakeholders in the country’s education sector, he observed, are making efforts to close identified gaps in science training and improve teaching and learning outcomes in the long term, in ways that serve national development.
“During our visitations and tours, as part of sharing our influence as a world-class institution deeply involved in training the next generation of African scientists, we have observed some improvements in government policy, particularly the mainstreaming of STEM-related subjects into the curriculum. This is a step in the right direction. At WACCBIP, we are ready to partner with government and its agencies to offer training programmes for science educators at all levels, so they can be more impactful in shaping the destinies of the next generation of scientists, both in Ghana and across the continent, in the medium to long term.”
The Open Day session, which brought together students and teachers from science-focused Senior High Schools, featured participants from institutions including Accra Academy, Ghana International School, St. Mary’s Girls, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Achimota School, among others. The programme included curated tours of WACCBIP laboratories and mentorship sessions with Senior Fellows of the Centre, offering guidance and career counselling.
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Story by Sika Togoh | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
