GSTS Leads the Way with Ghana’s First Alumni-Run IT Department

Ghana: Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) has set a national milestone as the first Senior High School to launch an Alumni-run IT Department, roll out Starlink-enabled campus-wide WiFi, and create a 100,000-volume digital library. The achievements form the backbone of STEMQUEST, an ambitious digital transformation initiative spearheaded by the GSTS Alumni Association (GAA). The programme seeks to modernise technical education by integrating advanced technologies into teaching, learning, and practical training. According to Ghana News Agency, Walter Kwami, Chief Technology Officer of the Alumni Association, said the initiative aimed to redefine the future of technical education. 'We are not just adding technology to existing structures. We are fundamentally rethinking what technical education means in the digital age,' he noted. GAA President, Daniel K. Teye, said the alumni body had committed substantial resources to the multi-year project. 'STEMQUEST represents one of our most significant long-term inv estments in GSTS. This is not a one-time donation but a sustained effort to restore the school to its rightful position as Ghana's premier technical institution,' he stated. Immediate Past President, Tetteh Abbeyquaye, stressed the importance of universal student access to technology. 'Every young person who enters GSTS must have the opportunity to engage with technology,' he said. 'We are preparing them not only for today's jobs but for the challenges and opportunities of the future.' The STEMQUEST pilot was unveiled during the 2025 Homecoming Weekend, held from December 4 to 6. The event featured a technology exhibition attended by students from GSTS and visiting schools including Adiembra SHS, Archbishop Porter Girls SHS, Ahantaman Girls SHS and Bompeh SHTS. The exhibition offered hands-on learning experiences across six stations: Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Drone Technology, Rocketry and Space Science, Digital Media and Communication, Student-Led Innovation and Smart Classroom Technology. Stud ents interacted with CM4 robot dogs capable of autonomous navigation, explored facial recognition applications, and programmed AI systems using both block-based tools and Python. A structured learning pathway exposed beginners to drone-building principles, guided intermediate learners through sensor-based drone coding, and introduced advanced participants to professional drone applications using DJI Mini Series equipment. A live roof inspection demonstrated real-world utility. Participants studied model rocket components, propulsion, payload design and basic orbital mechanics, linking classroom concepts to the possibilities of Ghana's future involvement in space technology. Students were introduced to photography, videography, podcasting, livestreaming and digital literacy, highlighting the relevance of modern communication skills. The GSTS Robotics Club exhibited two prototypes: a door-breach alarm system to enhance campus security and a functional digital Exeat App designed to replace paper-based student movement systems. Demonstrations included an AI-powered battery-operated projector and the RACHEL offline learning ecosystem, which provides extensive educational content without continuous internet access. The Alumni IT Department, staffed by National Service personnel and supported by experienced alumni professionals, manages the digital backbone of the initiative. The Starlink-powered WiFi network supports administrative tasks, teaching, and student research, while the 100,000-ebook digital library broadens access to academic resources. Plans are underway for a full Learning Management System (LMS) to streamline lesson delivery, assessment and personalised learning. Kwami emphasised that all deployments were designed with Ghana's resource constraints in mind. 'Power outages are a reality we have designed for,' he explained. 'Our devices run for hours on built-in batteries, and network systems auto-recover after outages. We are building for endurance, not just innovation.' The GAA plans to expand STEMQUE ST into a school-wide extracurricular pathway, ensuring every GSTS student graduates with hands-on experience in robotics, AI, drones, rocketry, software engineering, digital media and smart learning systems. Future phases will involve collaboration with universities, industry partners, alumni experts and global STEM organisations. The campus network will support AI-powered tutoring, digital attendance, secure records management and virtual learning sessions led by alumni across the world. 'The GSTS of old built engineers for the mechanical age,' Kwami said. 'The GSTS we are building today will produce innovators for the digital era-grounded in our strong technical heritage.'