Obuasi: The Obuasi Senior High Technical School (SHTS) has emerged victorious in the 2024 Stemnnovation competition, securing first place with their groundbreaking solar-powered homemade dialysis machine. Competing against 56 other schools, Obuasi SHTS achieved a top score of 85.86 points, showcasing their innovative approach to digital technology and earning significant prizes, including GH?50,000 from the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).
According to Ghana News Agency, the competition, organized by the Ministry of Education in partnership with NEIP, was fiercely contested under the theme “Addressing Future Challenges Now.” Dabokpa Technical Institute and Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ School also performed impressively, securing second and third places with scores of 83.29 and 80.43, respectively. These schools, along with others in the top twenty, received cash prizes and other awards to recognize their contributions to STEM education.
The event was not just a competition but a showcase o
f student innovation across various sectors including environmental and energy sustainability, and food sovereignty. Each participating school, regardless of rank, was awarded a laptop, printer, stationery, and a commemorative plaque.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, praised the participants for their ingenuity and commitment to STEM education. He emphasized the transformative potential of STEM education in the national educational landscape and highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance learning environments across the country, including significant renovations at St. Barnabas Basic School and Dzertokoe Basic School.
Furthermore, Dr. Adutwum announced upcoming inaugurations of new STEM-focused institutions like the Juaben Model STEM Junior High School, which are expected to equip students with critical 21st-century skills and drive socio-economic development in Ghana.
Winner Erastus Efa Wusu Manu from Obuasi SHTS expressed his team’s intention to further develop their dialysis
machine project, seeking collaboration with experts and investors to meet international standards and commence production.