Senior High School (SHS) has won this year’s Energy Commission Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge to represent the Upper West Region at the Zonal level later in August.
Three Senior High Schools – Wa SHS, Jirapa SHS and Kanton SHS participated in the competition held at the Wa SHS.
Wa SHS presented a project on using solar energy technology in addressing land degradation and water pollution and had 65.7 per cent, Kanton SHS presented a project on agro-multipurpose machine using solar energy and came second with 61 per cent points while Jirapa SHS presented a project on Water Purification system using solar energy came third with 57.7 per cent.
The theme for this year's challenge is "Application of Renewable Energy Technologies in Solving Land Degradation and Water Pollution".
Mr Julius Nkansah-Nyarko, a Senior Manager of Renewable Energy Regulations at the Energy Commission, who represented the Executive Secretary of the Commission, noted that the theme underscored the urgency of the environmental challenges and the pivotal role renewable energy could play in addressing them.
He observed that the country’s educational sector was disconnected from the ever-evolving needs of the industries and that the initiative by the Energy Commission would provide the youth with practical skills and bridge the academia-industry gap.
“By integrating real-world challenges and industry-relevant projects into the educational curriculum, we not only empower our youth with practical skills but also cultivate a mindset of innovation and adaptability”, he explained.
He expressed worry that only three SHSs participated in the Challenge this year considering ten SHSs last year with competitive projects and encouraged SHSs in the region to take an interest in the initiative and prepare their school to participate in subsequent ones.
Mr Nkansah explained that the Challenge was born out of the Commission's mandate under the Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832), which was aimed to promote the development and efficient use of renewable energy resources through public education, training and regulation of entrepreneurs in the sector.
“To enhance educational outcomes and foster a culture of innovation within the second cycle institutions, the Energy Commission Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge was established in 2019 with the support of the Ministry of Energy.
This initiative aims to educate and raise awareness about renewable energy, clean energy, and energy efficiency technologies among students in Senior High and Technical Schools across the nation”, he said.
Sogakofe SHS in the Volta Region won the Challenge last year and received a prize package totalling GHS 205,000.00, which included a complete 5kWp solar PV system, LED streetlights, solar wall lights, science textbooks, and a cash award of GHS 10,000.00.
Alhaji Duogu Yakubu, Head of Supervision at the Upper West Regional Education Directorate, who represented the Regional Director of Education, said the programme would allow the students to reveal their creative and innovative skills and to develop them.
He indicated that education in Ghana recently was geared towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and TVET which was necessary for national and human development.
Mr Mornah, Assistant Headmaster of Academics, Wa Senior High School, encouraged the winning school to put in efforts to excel at the Zonal level to represent the region at the national level.
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