Vice-Chancellor for the University of Education Winneba (UEW), Professor Stephen Jobson Mitchual has reaffirmed the university’s commitment to promoting STEM education in schools in its surrounding communities.
UEW aims to provide students at the basic and secondary levels with training in robotics and other science-related disciplines, equipping them with essential skills before offering further opportunities at the university level.
The University has spearheaded a community-based STEM initiative by engaging schools within its catchment area in hands-on STEM activities. The university’s Physics Department has leveraged advanced STEM skills to pilot a groundbreaking project: developing a solar-powered outboard motor designed for fishing.
According to Dr Desmond Appiah from the Physics Department, this project offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional fishing methods.
He demonstrated how various STEM principles have been applied to different aspects of the initiative.
“We have displayed basic experiments here today where students will have hands-on practice. As an institution, we have partnered with various institutions, and we are coming up with the piloting of a solar-powered outboard motor to help the local fishermen install these solar panels to power their boats.
“Our main idea is to upgrade their way of fishing. This is going to help them in the sense that buying premix fuel will be a thing of the past. We are going to input certain devices that can help store enough energy during the day so they can use it in the evening when they are fishing” Dr.Desmond Appiah of the Physics Department of the University said.
Professor Enoch Sam of the Centre for School and Community Science and Technology under the University of Education noted that through STEM education manual fixing of challenges will be a thing of the past, adding that science and technology are the way to go now.
“The interest of school children is already there, and the current administration is ready to embrace STEM education. What we can do now is to support by bringing STEM to the doorstep of school children. We can all testify to the fact that today children have come up with various STEM projects, and they must be embraced.
“In future, we hope to see a generation where little effort will be used to do things while science and technology are applied more “Professor Sam said.
Experts in STEM emphasized the crucial role of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in achieving sustainable development goals.
Several professionals also shared their insights with the news team on the importance of STEM education.
“Every parent must encourage their children to embrace STEM education because, in the long run, it will draw a clear career part way while also solving problems in society” David Asumedu Boateng of Asustem Robotics said.
Country Director of Empower Playground, Isaac Darko Mensah stated that the institutions are readily available to support science education while calling for support from the government.
“As an institution, we supported by providing STEM kits to the students to help teaching and learning of STEM” he concluded.
