Joyce Kantam Kolamong
Zipline Ghana in collaboration with the National Science and Math Quiz, NSMQ, has instituted a learnership programme aimed at promoting and making the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM, more appealing and enjoyable.
The programme is giving opportunity to students from less endowed schools who qualify to quarter finals of the NSMQ competition to engage in a four-week internship with Zipline.
The programme which took off in 2021 saw Kanton Senior High school in the Upper West region excelling as the best school in the 2021 competition.
The students are currently undergoing an internship at the Vobsi Zipline Distribution center at Walewale in the Mamprusi West of the North East region.
The program instituted by Zipline Ghana and the National Science and Math Quiz program, is the first of its kind.
It is geared towards giving brilliant students from less endowed schools the opportunity to learn and know more about STEM and inform their decision about the choice of science related programmes and courses at the tertiary level.
The programme intends to make the students Zipline Champions as well as whip up their interest in pursuing Technology and Engineering.
Though Kanton Senior High School in the Sissala East of the Upper West region, took part in the regional championships in the past, it was their first time making it to the National Competition. Kanton SHS also qualified as one of the top 15 runners up.
The School was however kicked out in the Quarter-finals stage of the Competition by Chemu SHS after knocking out Apam SHS and Assin State College at the one-eighth stage.
Many people have expressed happiness with the performance of the team and believed that the exposure will bring attention to the school and motivate stakeholders to support the school.
The Community Lead in charge of Operations at the Centre, Dr. Simon Batamya Aseno, said the gesture formed part of the Corporate Social responsibility of Zipline in its operational area.
”The internship has really changed the mindset of the students from pursuing science and medicine to technology and engineering”.
He asserted that the programme will push more students to the engineering field”.
The three interns from Kanton Senior High School are Adda Dhadrack Niadawe, Agmenusi Timothy Aziteba and Ayaana Jeffrey. After a short time at the Center, they have decided to pursue Computer Science, Robotics and Biochemistry respectively.
