Story by: Mabel Adorkor Annang
Ghana Education Service in collaboration with the Science Education Unit has organised a National Science, Technology, Mathematics and Innovation education (STMIE) Camp to engage students in practical hands-on activities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
It brought together students to develop their critical, thinking, creative and other skills. Speaking at the closing ceremony in Accra, Deputy Director-General of Ghana Education Service, Anthony Boateng said the programme is to introduce more students into STEM education programmes to develop scientific projects to address societal needs.
The 2021 National Science, Technology, Mathematics and Innovation Education (STMIE) camp for senior high schools across the country ended in Accra, with Koforidua Senior High Technical, Prempeh College and Pope Johns Senior High School emerging tops with scientific projects to beat over 270 other participants this year.
Koforidua SHS presented an aeroplane which could move around. Prempeh College presented a COVID-19 hand Sanitizer dispenser, while Pope Johns SHS developed a dust extractor to maintain a clean environment.
In all, 270 participants comprising of 220 SHS, 16 Regional Coordinators, 10 National Coordinators and twenty-four other invited guests took part in this year’s camp.
Deputy Director-General of Ghana Education Service Anthony Boateng said robotics was added to this year’s activities to prepare participants for the future industrial revolution.
He added that “the original idea was to introduce many more students into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Initially, it was meant only meant for girls but over a period we decided to include boys as well. So the idea is to expose them to practical Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics issues so they can deal with them better. It’s been interesting so far. We added robotics because that is where the world is changing towards. We are adding on as and when the world’s strategy is changing.”
Director of the Science Education Unit at the Ghana Education Service, Mrs. Olivia Opare said industries are supporting STEM projects by students to help harness and sustain their talents.
Mrs. Opare intimated that “most industries are involved in of their projects and any industry which is interested in their projects, they also support in further improvement. The industry will intend take up the project to a larger scale.”
Winners of the project, Koforidua Sec Technical demonstrated how they built the moving aeroplane which won them the overall best award.
He said “I used plywood and soft foam, called a flat foam and cardboard and plywood so that it will be light in weight. I bought equipment that helps toy aeroplanes to fly from Jumia and the Robot arm to control the flap elevator. This controls the aeroplane when it is in the sky, how it will turn, balance and everything is controlled by the robot arm, that is the service. The tyres of the aeroplane are made from a travelling bag. Inside has a battery to help the engine to work. The decoration and the design was made by me.”
A student of Kumasi Senior High School Erica Agyemang was adjudged the coveted winner of the 2021 STEMIE camp.
The Science Education Unit has organized the National STMIE Camps since 1987. Almost all the students who participated in the camps over the years take up STEM-related fields in the tertiary institutions in Ghana and outside Ghana.
They also excel in the STEM subjects in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The participants are prominent in society and are used as role models during the STMIE camps.
