Uaddara Basic School in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi has been handed a modern science laboratory after developing an illuminated child road safety device.

Six girls of the school won the ultimate prize at the maiden edition of the Ghana Science and Tech Explorer Prize (GSTEP) challenge. 

The learning center would facilitate in whipping up the interest of students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at the 4 Garrison educational center. 

After throwing the judges and audience into a rousing ovation with their innovation, the Genius Six of Uaddara Basic School has paved the way for their colleague students to access science learning materials. 

As part of their winning prize, the school received a well-established STEM laboratory from the GSTEP Consortium with funding from Botnar Foundation.

The facility is equipped with scientific apparatus, microscopes, 3D-printing machine, laptop and desktop computers, and other learning and teaching aids. 

Founder of GSTEP, Constance Agyeman, is optimistic of a practical STEM learning and teaching experience. 

“Having this equipment in the school means that the teachers will have a lot more resources to be able to support their students. The students will be able to get much more practical hands-on learning rather than just learning them theoretically,” he said.   

The illuminated child road safety device developed by the all-female group is a solar-powered device that aids school children to cross busy inner city roads. 

The user-friendly device can be used by students at basic schools in the absence of a human-aid when crossing highways. 

Elated by the feat, Priscilla Osei says the group is hoping to enhance features on the device and eventually commercialize it. 

“We are still researching and hoping to modify some parts of the device. We will see to it that the whole device is produced in mass quantity,” she said.  

4 Garrison Education Officer, Lt. Col. ZBV Akatey says the school is anticipating collaboration with the education ministry to train more science facilitators.

“This would not only be limited to the Uaddara Basic school, but all schools under the 4 Garrison educational centre will benefit from this facility. We are also hoping to patent the prototype developed by the students,” he said. 

GSTEP challenge seeks to encourage and support Junior High School (JHS) students as well as teachers to acquire practical skills relevant for providing societal solutions.