Those who developed technology from cardboards to assist in counting coins explained, “Money-counting machines are very expensive in Ghana and are hardly accessible by the women engaged in small scale businesses in town. With the risks involved in physically handling money, a simple counting machine can come in handy for these women.”
Good Shepherd JHS from the Ashanti Region emerged the overall winners with 47.5 points, walking away with cash prize of GHc10,000 (USD1,790.00), a certificates and other consolation prizes from the three-round contest that revolved around the content of Agricultural Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematic, with associated test on practical knowledge.
St. Mary's School took the second position with 45.5 points, followed by Mount Mary with 27.5 points. The two schools walked away with GHc5,000 (USD895.00) and GHc2,000 (USD358.00) respectively. Other schools that made it to the grand finale were also awarded under different categories.
Noting the novelty in the innovations, Ing. Dr. Ken Ashigbey the Chief Executive Officer of (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication, who was the guest of honour at the grand finale lauded the young innovators, noting that the world was in need of their talents.
“The world has become a global village, which requires skills and innovations. I am happy that young people through Catholic education and the brain battle quiz have explored by bringing their creativity, innovations and initiatives of science, Maths and technology to bare,” said Dr. Ashigbey.
Addressing the 150 pupils gathered at the Christ the King Parish Hall for the ceremony, Dr. Ashigbey lauded the confidence of the contestants and asked them “to take their education seriously especially by enhancing their skills in science, mathematics and technology.”
He appealed to Ghanaian businesses and individuals to use their resources to support the young ones build on the knowledge they had acquired through their experience during the quiz.
With the slogan “It's Mental, not Muscles”, the quiz contest was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of Basic School pupils in Ghana in the study of Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics and (STEM).
Last month, 21 Catholic Basic Schools in Ghana converged in the country’s capital city, Accra, to battle in a National Science and Mathematics quiz that was aimed at boosting their performance in STEM fields.
Part of the three-day event’s practical science components included a ‘Hot Lab’ Science practical question that required contestants to use provided apparatus to investigate and explain a concept.