Education Minister introduces ‘stemnnovation’ competition for Senior High Schools 

The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has introduced a national ‘stemnnovation’ competition for Senior High Schools (SHS), Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutes in the country.

The competition aims to unlock the creative potential of the Free Senior High School Programme (FSHSP) beneficiaries, by challenging them to create Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) projects, on specific themes that will highlight the positive impact of the FSHSP.

About 200 schools participated in the maiden edition of the competition, with 24 qualified for the grand finale, at the University of Ghana, in Accra.

Some schools developed coding and programming, use of solar energy and recycling, urban gardening, clean water, and effective use of electricity.

Participation Schools included Sunyani High School, Swedru Senior High School, OLA Girls Senior High School, Koforidua Technical Institute, Wesley Grammar Senior High School, Kpando Technical Insitute and KNUST Senior High.

The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, addressing the schools, said he was impressed with the innovations created by the students, and applauded them for a good job. 

He said all the qualified schools were currently preparing to showcase their unique projects which focus on their creative potential in finding solutions to challenges confronting their respective communities.

He said the contest aims to revolutionize the country’s educational landscape and showcase the government’s dedication to equipping the youth with the essential skills for success in the modern world.

“The construction of Accra STEM Academy is another government initiative, that will provide instruction in problem-solving, creativity, communication, collaboration, data literacy, digital literacy, and computer science to students in kindergarten through high school. 

For secondary school graduates with non-science backgrounds who want to study engineering at the postsecondary level, the government has just launched a Pre-Engineering Program” Dr Adutwum said.

The Deputy Coordinator at the Free Senior High School Secretariat, Ms Afra Sika Mensah said, the competition was unique, as it allowed the students to display their talents, teamwork, and skills.

BY BERNARD BENGHAN