Standard Bank Malawi CEO urges female students to embrace science and technology
Female students in the country have been urged to concentrate in science subjects if they are to become reliable leaders with a better understanding of the world around them.
The call was made on Tuesday during a career talk organized by Chancellor College of Malawi under the Faculty of Science where computer science female students from various secondary schools were being mentored.
Speaking during the mentorship, Acting Chief Executive Officer for Standard Bank who was also guest of honor, Temwani Simwaka, said it was high time girls understood the importance of technology in development.
She said there was a big gap in representation of women in technology.
“The future of our country depends on technology. Where are our girls and women in the much needed spaces of leadership in Malawi,’ queried Simwaka.
She therefore said there was need for role models to visit girls in secondary schools across the country to encourage and motivate them so those gaps that exist can be closed.
“Standard Bank started mentoring girls from different primary schools as one way of encouraging them to concentrate on science subjects to excel in life,” said Simwaka.
Chancellor College Vice Principal Professor Samson Sajidu expressed concern on the few female students who go for science subjects when selected into the college.
“Most of the applicants who go for science programmes are mainly male students as female students shun the programmes,” he said.
Professor Sajidu concurred with Simwaka on lack of role models to be one of the factors fueling female students from shunning science programmes.
He said the college, through female staff on ICT, initiated the idea of inviting girls from various secondary schools so that they can be inspired.
During the mentorship, students from St Mary’s, Malindi, Cobbe Barracks, Chinamwali, Police, Likangala, Chilunga and Mulunguzi secondary schools attended.
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