The Obuasi Senior High Technical School (O’SecTec) has won the 2024 Stemnnovation competition with an innovative project focused on digital technology.
The competition, meant to empower students to develop solutions that contribute to Ghana’s future development, was organised by the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the NEIP, under the theme: “Addressing Future Challenges Now”, with the competing schools showcasing their innovations in environmental sustainability, energy sustainability and food sovereignty.
At the end of the day, the panel of five judges scored Obuasi SecTec higher for their solar-powered homemade dialysis machine to beat 56 other schools, to emerge the overall winner with 85.86 points.
They received a prize package that included GH¢50,000 from the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), a desktop computer from Omega Computers, GH¢20,000 life insurance from Glico Insurance Company, along with medals and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) textbooks.
Dabokpa Technical Institute took second place with 83.29 points, earning GH¢40,000 while Yaa Asantewaa Girls placed third with 80.43 points and received GH¢30,000.
Presbyterian Senior High School, Legon, secured fourth place with 75 points and received GH¢20,000.
All participating schools were awarded a laptop, printer, stationery and a plaque for their achievements.
Schools ranked fourth to tenth each received GH¢20,000 while those in the eleventh to twentieth positions received GH¢10,000.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, commended the winners and all participating schools for their ingenuity and skills, stating that “Stemnnovation has come to stay.”
He emphasised that STEM education has the potential to transform the educational landscape in the country.
The minister said that the competition would provide students with opportunities to discover and harness their creative talents for the benefit of the world.
“Ghana has the best group of students in the world to develop projects to transform the country’s socio-economic development,” he said.
He mentioned that the government has renovated schools such as St. Barnabas Basic School in Osu and Dzertokoe Basic School in the Volta region to provide state-of-the-art learning environments.
Dr.Adutwum also announced that the Juaben Model STEM Junior High School and other STEM institutions would soon be inaugurated and ready for operation.
He said that those schools would play a crucial role in transforming the country’s development by equipping students with the 21st-century skills essential for modern classrooms.
The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET), Professor Kingsley Nyarko, emphasised the significance of STEM education in Ghana’s future progress.
He highlighted the need to equip the next generation with both theoretical and practical skills.
“STEM and TVET form the backbone of Ghana’s future workforce. Through this competition, we are building a generation of thinkers, creators and doers who will shape the trajectory of Ghana for years to come,” he said.
Transformation
Prof. Nyarko added that the projects had the potential to transform industries, communities and the nation.
He further praised the competing students for their creativity and efforts. “It is inspiring to see our youth taking on the global challenge of climate change head-on. These projects have the potential to transform industries, communities and our nation,” he added.
