Education across the globe is going through a major transformation from the rote learning system to the practical and inclusive education. This is why the launch of the Ghana Science and Explorer Prize(GSTEP) in Ghana in 2021 is helping to drive STEM and practical learning among students at the Junior High Schools in Ghana. The challenge was launched to engage students in practical learning through the identification of problems in their community and address such challenges using local materials sourced from their environment to address such challenges.
The GSTEP Challenge has entered the final phase of the program which is the Exhibition and Awards Ceremony. The event is set to be held on the 25th of January 2023 at the Accra International Conference Centre.
After receiving over 800 submissions, 50 finalist teams were selected from the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions to participate in the GSTEP challenge. As part of the program the teams participated in a series of workshops, STEM related activities and programs, mentorship, coaching and prototype development and will now present their ideas to the general public at an exhibition. Outstanding teams, personalities and institutions will be honored at a prestigious awards ceremony on the same day.
The Exhibition and Awards Ceremony will be in two parts. The Exhibition event will have the general public coming to see the mind-blowing inventions of the finalist teams. These prototypes would be displayed by all fifty (50) finalist teams, with each team allocated an exhibition booth. The finalist teams will engage the general public to explain their solutions, the ideas behind their prototype and the challenge the invention is addressing in their communities.
The second part of the event on the day is the Awards Ceremony. All outstanding finalist teams will be awarded for their brilliance, hard work, and constant efforts to come up with the best solutions. Some of the awards include the People’s Choice, Excellence in Applied Science, Most Innovative Idea and Best Pitch awards.
The GSTEP Challenge is a challenge prize for JHS students and teachers in Greater Accra and Ashanti regions to excite and encourage them to develop practical STEM skills and products that benefit local communities. The GSTEP program is run by a consortium of 5 organizations, with DreamOval Foundation as the lead implementer, in partnership with Challenge Works, UK, MEST Africa, DEXT Technology & Foundervine, UK.
The program is a collaboration between the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education to drive STEM and practical learning among JHS students in Ghana. This challenge will run a full challenge prize in 2023 to identify more talents among students. As part of the plan to scale the program across the country, the challenge will include the Eastern region in the 2023 edition. The GSTEP Challenge is in its second year and is focused on improving the quality of education, creating opportunities for the youth, and providing solutions for local communities through STEM.
GSTEP is funded by Fondation Botnar, a Swiss philanthropic organization working to improve the health and well-being of young people in cities around the world. The foundation invests in and supports innovative programs and research, advocates for the inclusion of youth voices and the equitable use of AI and digital technology, and brings together actors from across sectors to create dialogue and partnerships. The GSTEP program is also supported by Fidelity Bank, Stanbic Bank, Multimedia Group and Ashesi University.
