Our Lady of Grace Senior High School (OLAG) located in Mampongteng in the Ashanti Region has hosted about 11 Junior High schools to a robotic competition aimed at giving young students with the opportunity to tackle difficult problems using practical approach.
Held on the theme: ‘Inspiring young minds and developing creative thinkers for the 21st Century’, the project was aimed at developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers for students using robots.
The Training Partner was Asustem Robotics Academy, a non-governmental organization focused on STEM education for Africa.
Schools that participated included: Prempeh Experimental A, Frobel International School, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Heman Methodist Model, Prempeh Experimental B, Family First International School, Atimatim Model, Roman Catholic School, Opoku Ware School, Prempeh Experimental C and Family Life International School (a visiting school from Accra).
Activities done were: Line Follower Challenge which was an autonomous robot that could move in a complex maze within 3 minutes, Mini Sumo Challenge, wrestling robots in a circular ring built-in defence mechanisms and electronics.
Students were also engaged in ‘Freestyle Projects’ where participants were required to develop innovative robots that can solve problems.
Prempeh Experimental B emerged winners of the Line Follower category while Frobel International and Prempeh Experimental C won the Sumo Challenge and Freestyle category respectively.
Overall quiz winner was Family First International School.
Addressing participants at the event, the Headmaster of OLAG, Mr. Stephen Anokye observed that as the world grows increasingly coupled with technological advancement, introducing young ones to practical studies will enhance their skill and knowledge acquisition.
He, therefore, described the robotic education project as a good course and appealed to the educational sector to embrace it for a brighter future.
Mr. Anokye congratulated the winners and the participatory schools for exhibiting their talents in a keenly contested session and urged them to utilize the knowledge acquired in their daily learning experience to drive the course.
Speaking in an interview with the media, Mr. David Asumadu-Boateng, Director of Projects- Asustem Robotics Academy noted that, as an NGO and a STEM educator, “we are focused on equipping young students with knowledge and skills to tackle tough problems through practical approach using robots.”
He assured to extend the training to other areas of the country to promote the educational sector through technology.
The event brought together stakeholders in the educational sector and some Board members of OLAG.
Notable among them were: the Municipal Chief Executive of Kwabre East Municipality, Nana Osei Assibey Bonsu and the Director of Education for Kwabre East, Mrs. Stella Ofori-Atta.
