A cooking contest as part of weekly activities at Methodist JHS in Bawku in the Upper East Region has become a huge draw, increasing student attendance over the past year as students eagerly look forward to savoring the tasty dishes prepared by their fellow students and don't want to miss out on the fun.

The Friday co-curricular activities including quizzes, debates, inter school sports, spelling Bee, adolescent reproductive health education have successfully kept students engaged for the full day.

These competition in Basic 7 has led to a 25% increase in student attendance, rising from 56 to 70, while Basic 8 has seen a 20% increase, from 50 to 60 students, on Fridays.

Previously, attendance had dwindled by 20% and 25% on Fridays for both Basic 7 and 8, respectively. However, with the introduction of the cooking competition among others, students have acquired culinary skills, learning to prepare a variety of dishes such as tomato sauce with rice and egg, egg stew, spaghetti jollof, and beans stew, among others, leading to a remarkable turnaround in attendance.

The co-curricular activities highlight the positive impact of the cooking competition on school attendance, emphasizing how students are now motivated to attend school regularly to enjoy the delicious dishes prepared by their peers and enjoy other activities.

For the cooking contest, the students were divided into 11 groups, each consisting of 11 members, to prepare their respective dishes. While there are no formal prizes for the winners, they receive enthusiastic applause and a symbolic gesture of appreciation, akin to a standing ovation, which serves as a motivator and recognition of their efforts.

This week, the 'Ladies and Gentlemen Cooks' team emerged victorious, scoring an impressive 97% in the cooking competition. Judges Akuka Jude Osman and Shaibu Ubaida evaluated the dishes based on three key criteria: taste (50 marks), lead chef's appearance (25 marks), and presentation (25 marks), including the arrangement of utensils and food display.

“There were 100 marks awarded in total with a group called ladies and gentlemen Kitchen emerging first with 97 marks to win the contest on this Friday,” One of the science teachers, Akuka said.

They noted that the school has been hosting various weekly activities for the past year, including quizzes, debates, sports, spelling bees, reproductive health education, and now cooking competitions, all aimed at engaging students and promoting academic consistency.

Masawud noted that the initiative has injected a sense of enjoyment and excitement among students, and they are advocating for more programs like it to be implemented in schools to foster a more engaging and enjoyable learning environment.

“When such programmes are encouraged, they make education fun and easier for learners. And that should be the foundation of our educational system,” he said.

Rahma has always been enchanted by the cooking competition, marveling at the students' culinary talents and their ability to collaborate and learn from each other. She finds it truly remarkable to see the students working together, sharing skills, and showcasing their creativity in the kitchen.

“The excitement in the eyes of the learners is beautiful. We hope to have more fun activities for our learners,” she said.

Rahma hopes that the competition will spark a passion for cooking among learners, potentially leading to further education and careers in the culinary arts. By promoting cooking as an essential life skill for all, regardless of gender, she says, the competition aims to empower students with a valuable skill and provide a platform for them to develop social skills, such as teamwork and communication, through collaboration and mutual learning.