The Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA) has emerged the overall winner of the maiden “stemnovation” competition organised for Senior High Schools (SHS) and Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) schools across the country.
KUMACA had 24.6 points followed by Pope John’s SHS and Minor Seminary School with 24.4 points, the first runner-up, and Worawora SHS with 23. 8 points, the second runner-up.
They were presented with GH¢ 12,000 cheques, a printer and a laptop; whereas the first and second runners-up received GH¢7, 000 and GH¢5,000, respectively, as well as a printer and laptop each.
In all, 200 SHSs and TVET institutions participated in the competition nationwide, out of which 16 were selected for the semi-finals, and three made it to the grand finale.
The maiden stemnovation competition provided a platform for students to showcase Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects that they had developed to solve societal problems.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Education through the Free SHS/TVET Secretariat in collaboration with Cocktail Media, a media production group.
Kumasi Academy presented a “smart house” prototype with photo-resistant solar panels, smart gates, smoke-detector sensors, and motion sensors, which detected human presence.
Master Prince Opoku, a student of KUMACA, who made the presentation, said the vision was to develop a state-of-the-art house that was secured and safe for residents.
He explained that the solar panels were to provide a constant electricity supply to the house and save energy and cost.
“We also included the sensors in the house to ensure that it is well secured and protected from intruders and disasters.
“With the smoke sensor, for instance, it is to provide early warnings against fire outbreaks,” he added.
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, said the government was committed to enhancing the teaching and learning of STEM through the competition.
He urged the participating schools to continue to develop their projects regardless of their performance in the competition.
The Minister also urged tertiary institutions to reach out to the students and provide them with scholarships to develop their talents.
Other schools awarded were Camboni Technical Institute adjudged the most artistic stemnovation; Accra Technical Training Centre the best TVET school, and Community Development Vocational Technical Institute as the most integrated STEM project.
The rest were Presbyterian Boys SHS, Legon, adjudged overall best stemnovation coding and programming project; KNUST SHS as the overall best stemnovation solar project, and Gambaga SHS as the overall best stemnovation recycling project.
Projects exhibited on the day included solar-powered lights, recycled and reusable products, water and waste treatment products and software applications.
Source: Ghana News Agency
