Dr. Yaayin, Boniface

Dr. Boniface Yaayin had his foundation degree in Bachelor of Education (Science) with specialization in Chemistry (First Class Honours) from the University of Cape Coast in 2006. He further obtained M. Sc. in Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2009 and M. Phil. in Science Education (Chemistry Option) in 2016 from the University of Education, Winneba. He had his terminal degree in Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education in 2021 from the University of Education, Winneba.

He is a professional chemistry educator by training, who taught at various levels of education in Ghana since 1999. His teaching experience cuts across teaching at the Basic level, Senior High School level, College of Education level and now at the University level. While he was in Tamale College of Education, he attained the rank of a Senior Tutor and became Head of Department (Science Department) from 2017 to 2019. He served in the Academic Board as well as the Promotion and Appointment Committee within the period he was the Head of Department. He was part of a committee in the College who won a grant to implement a Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) Project that led to the professional development of about 380 Basic school teachers in about 32 schools in Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana.

He is a currently a Lecturer in Chemistry Education Department, University of Education, Winneba. Dr. Yaayin has expertise in Chemistry Education with focus on innovations in Teaching and Learning of Chemistry that promote student-centred learning, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills and life-long learning. He has published articles in international journals to that effect. Other area of expertise is water and environmental sanitation, focusing on water quality analysis as well as solid and liquid waste assessment.

His teaching philosophy is rooted in the 21st century learning skills – communication, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. Thus, his teaching philosophy is to use learner-centred teaching strategies including technology to guide students acquire the 21st century learning skills to make them lifelong learners and productive in the job market. Dr. Yaayin aims at excellence in pursuit of his teaching and research career.

In rendering community service, Dr. Yaayin together with some other colleagues in the University of Education, Winneba won a grant from the American Chemical Society (ACS) to organize a Chemistry Festival Project for Basic School Pupils within the Effutu Municipality with the theme: Unmasking Chemistry in Indigenous Activities. The Project led to training of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers in four rural Basic Schools on unmasking chemistry concepts in indigenous activities in the Effutu Municipality – Winneba. It also resulted in educating and sensitizing community members within the Effutu Municipality through Radio Windy Bay, 98.3 MHz on “Unmasking chemistry concepts in indigenous activities”, which serves as an innovative way of teaching science at the Basic School level.