Adutwum launches STEM competition for FSHS students
As part of an effort to improve Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, the Minister for Education, Dr Adutwum has launched a National STEM competition for students under the Free SHS program.
“With the support of my Hon. Deputy Minister for Education Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, I launched a National STEM Project competition dubbed STEMNNOVATION on Monday 5th September 2022,” the Education Minister said in a post.
The STEMNOVATION, Mr Osei Yaw Adutwum said is designed to challenge and tap into the creative potential of the current Free SHS Programme beneficiaries in Senior High Schools, Senior High Technical Schools and TVET institutions.
“Another good news about this competition is that it is the first of its kind at the second cycle level of education in Ghana that will task competing schools to apply indigenous materials in their surroundings to develop a STEM project that has the potential to solve a specific problem in their community,” he told stakeholders at the competition launch
Each Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) project developed, the Minister in charge of Education in the social media post sighted by AcademicWeek indicated will contain at least one of the following themes:
a. Solar Energy for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development
b. Recycling for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development
c. Coding & Programming for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development
In a closing remark, the Member of Parliament for the Bosomtwe Constituency, Honourable Adutwum said “I wish all competing schools the very best, and may the school with the most innovative and creative STEM project win.”
In another story, the Deputy Minister for Education, Ntim Fordjour has said plans are underway for the central government to establish a state of the art STEM universities in the five newly created regions in the country.
Speaking at the investiture of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Professor Eric Nyarko-Sampson, Ntim said the move forms part of an effort to expand and promote STEM education.
“It is in line with this policy that the government has programmed finances to establish five (5) STEM universities in 5 newly created regions starting this year,” the Reverend Minister disclosed at the Professor’s investiture ceremony.
He indicated the Nana Akufo-Addo-led government as part of STEM promotion has constructed 10 STEM high schools and a STEM academy to take care of the pre-tertiary level to ensure the country attains its strategic objective by 2030.
“Our strategic objective is having a 60/40 science to humanity ratio as against the current 40/60 in favour of humanity, to this end be assured most sincerely that your proposal will receive rapid attention,” Reverend John Fordjour stated.
