More than 800 senior high and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions are expected to participate in this year’s national science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) project competition dubbed ‘STEMMNNOVATION’.
The competition would see all the participating schools locking horns with their creative potential in finding solutions to challenges confronting their immediate community or the country.
Criteria
As a condition, all the participants should be current beneficiaries of the free senior high programme and would be challenged to develop STEM projects on topics in the areas of urban gardening, clean water and flexible use of electricity.
The Deputy Coordinator of the free senior high school (SHS) secretariat, Afra Sika Mensah, who disclosed this to the media, was upbeat that the second edition of the event would be more competitive.
She indicated that after the official launch in Accra, the competition would begin with the various regions competing to select qualifiers to represent them at the grand finale to be held in September.
Directive
A letter dated May 26, 2023, and signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Mamle Andrews, urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana TVET Service (TVETS) to ensure that their institutions registered and participate in the event.
The letter requested all SHS and TVET institutions across the country to participate in the competition to help them to exhibit their skills and develop their competitive talents.
Background
Last year, a total of 200 schools submitted videos of their projects meant for the contest but only 97 of the schools qualified after going through vetting by the team of experts put together for that purpose.
Kumasi Academy SHS won the maiden edition of the competition with 24.6 points to beat Pope John Senior High and Seminary and the enterprising Worawora SHS with 24.4 and 23.8 points to place 1st and 2nd runners-up respectively.
For emerging winners, Kumasi Academy SHS took home a trophy, a laptop, a printer and a GH¢12,000 cash prize.
Pope John’s was presented with a plaque, a laptop, a printer and GH¢7000 cash for emerging 1st runner-up while Worawora SHS took home a plaque, a laptop, a printer and GH¢5000 cash.
Awards were also presented to 16 others as regional champions, the Overall Best recycling project, the Overall Best Coding and programming project and Overall Best Solar Project.
Source: myghanadaily
