Alavanyo (V/R), Jul. 2, GNA- Twenty students from Primary and Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Alavanyo Traditional Area have been awarded for outstanding performance in the maiden Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) examination competition.
The examination, which was an initiative of the Paramount Queen, saw participation from 80 students with the best 10 students from the Primary and JHS categories receiving cash prizes and sets of branded exercise books.
Master Bayere Precious of Alavanyo Wudidi E.P Primary School and Miss Kporvuvu Josephine of the Alavanyo Wudidi M/A JHS emerged winners in the primary and JHS categories respectively.
Mamaga Ametor Hoebuadzu II, the Paramount Queen of the Alavanyo Traditional Area, said one of her duties as a Queen was to protect women and children in her traditional area and beyond in areas of education, health, security and general welfare.
“I see education as one of the keys to development that can open the door for my children in my traditional area. I need to start with exams in four key subjects; Science, ICT, English Language and Mathematics.”
She said the subjects were chosen to raise the pupils’ interest in the Science competitions, which were ongoing globally to enable the pupils to be abreast with current world trends.
Mamaga Hoebuadzu said records on the BECE performance over the years showed that there was more room for improvement hence engaging the students would help them and the community in future.
Mr Richard Kitsi, the Project Lead, Alavanyo STEM Academy, said students in the Area would soon learn programming, artificial intelligence, robotics engineering and machine learning to become accomplished future engineers and doctors who would help solve practical problems in the community.
He called for individual and organisations to ensure the success of the programme, which would enable the development of Alavanyo.
Mr Edmund Batse, the Chief Inspector of Schools, Hohoe Municipal Education Directorate, expressed gratitude to Mamaga Hoebuadzu for the initiative, adding that it would motivate students to learn hard.
He urged the students not to relent on their efforts in learning to become useful citizens in future and urged parents not to deny their wards’ educational needs.