April 27, 2023
On Wednesday 19th April 2023, the DreamOval Foundation led the winners of the 2022 Ghana Science & Tech Explorer Prize (GSTEP) Challenge to present their award to the President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo.
The visit was to show appreciation to the government for the immense support and efforts by the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service in the implementation of the GSTEP Challenge and also showcase the outcomes of the activities of the GSTEP program. It was an exciting experience for the students and a proud moment for the DreamOval Foundation to demonstrate what Ghanaian youth can achieve through STEM education.
The DreamOval team thanked the government for their support and expressed gratitude to all governmental partners in the execution of its programmes. The Deputy Minister for Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour also congratulated the DreamOval Foundation and its partners for the successful implementation of the GSTEP programme and expressed the Ministry’s commitment towards the development of STEM education in Ghana.
H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo expressed his delight at the presentation by the team. He congratulated all present and expressed joy at what the team has achieved. He stated that it was important that the education that is given to young people should reflect the needs of the 21st century which is in Science & Technology.
He explained that 40% of tertiary students in China are Engineering students and he believes this is a statistic that should be emulated in Ghana because Engineers are needed in the process of development and transformation.
The President congratulated the DreamOval team and its partners for their efforts in implementing the programme. He encouraged the team to continue in their efforts and stated that the meeting had illuminated his day. He suggested that engagements should continue with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to adopt the use of the device. He also thanked the headmistress of Uaddara Basic School for her efforts and encouraged her to continue the good work.
The GSTEP Challenge is an exciting program for Junior High School students that encourages them to develop unique solutions to problems in their communities using Science and Technology. The program is implemented by a consortium led by the DreamOval Foundation in collaboration with Challenge Works, Foundervine, MEST Africa and DEXT Technology. The program is funded by Fondation Botnar, a Swiss philanthropic that champions the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve the wellbeing of children.