Dr. William Kwame Amankrah, the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, believes that the implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Ghana’s education system can help eliminate the practice of rote learning among students. According to him, STEM education aims to expose students to practical problem-solving methods, moving away from memorization for exams without a fundamental understanding of concepts.
Speaking at the fourth edition of the Renewable Energy Challenge for Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region, organized by the Energy Commission in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Energy, Dr. Amankrah emphasized the importance of STEM education in building Ghana’s human resource capacity. The challenge focused on the theme of “Mechanized Small-Scale Agriculture Using Renewable Energy Technologies” and aimed to promote creative thinking, provide mentorship to students, and offer a platform for them to showcase their innovative projects.
Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School emerged as the winner among the ten participating schools in the region, including Opoku Ware School, St. Louis SHS, Esaase Bontefufuo SHS, KNUST SHS, Akrofuom SHTS, Asokore Ahmadiyya Girls SHS, St. Jerome SHS, and Obuasi SHTS.
Dr. Amankrah commended the Energy Commission for organizing the renewable energy challenge, stating that it aligns with the vision of transforming students into critical thinkers through STEM education. He praised the participating schools for showcasing their innovative skills throughout the competition.
Mr. Frederick Ken-Appiah, the Deputy Director of the Energy Commission, explained that the challenge was part of the Commission’s efforts to promote and develop the utilization of energy resources in the country. He advocated for the integration of efficient use of renewable energy resources into the mainstream educational curriculum in Ghana.