Mamfe, Eastern Region//-MTN Ghana today began construction of a state-of-the art Robotic Centre for Mamfe Methodist Girls’ Senior High School (SHS) winner of the World Robotics and Coding Competition.
The project valued at GHC1.9 million which is expected to complete within five months is being funded solely by the MTN Ghana Foundation, the corporate social responsibility wing of MTN Ghana, the leading telecom company in the country.
Speaking after the sod cutting of the centre at school, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, said: “Today, we are formally beginning the construction of a 100- seater hall with partitions for an ICT center and Robotics practice area at a total cost of GHC 1.9 million (GHC 1,915,854.00)”.
The project he said when completed would be furnished with computers and accessories, robotics tools and equipment, furniture and electrical equipment, and internet service.
Bridge the ICT divide
“It is our belief that this project will help bridge the ICT divide that exists in this age of fast-changing trends and technology as well as help to meet the future skill set demand of our country’s development.
As we lay the foundation of the Robotics Lab, we are confident that it will be a significant contribution to STEM education in the country”.
Indeed, Manfe Methodist Girls is privileged to be one of the few schools to be equipped with this modern STEM Robotics Centre in the country.
“This is the second robotics project we are investing in. The first STEM Robotics center we built is the Dansoman multipurpose library located inside the Ebenezer Senior High School”, Mr Adadevoh added.
Promise fulfilled
“This ceremony is incredibly significant. It is in fulfilment of a promise we made during MTN Ghana’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2021 and falls in line with our strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress”.
Some are asking why we are not providing a regular ICT center but have chosen to build a STEM Robotic Lab? As you all may be aware STEM is gradually becoming the rock on which development is being championed”.
This sod cutting ceremony is a testament of the company’s commitment to make lives a whole brighter in its communities and provide a world of endless possibilities, where everyone gets to benefit from a modern connected life, Mr Adadevoh said.
Encouragement
As the company commences the construction of this project, he encouraged the girls to continue to work hard to deliver excellent results.
The CEO also charged them to take their lessons seriously and explore the opportunities that STEM brings.
“You are privileged to be in such an environment that is welcoming to these new innovative teaching and learning and we are proud to be partnering with this school to drive innovation in the country”.
We anxiously await the construction of this facility and hope that the contractors can finish in an enjoyable time. I am confident that as we continue to work together closely with our partners and stakeholders, we will continue to inspire a brighter future for all”.
Gov’t building STEM centres
The Deputy Minister of Education In-charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Mrs Gifty Ampofo Twum, disclosed that in a bid to deliver the finest possible STEM education, the government is building 10 STEM Senior High Schools in addition to extensively restructuring many Senior High Schools across the nation with the necessary learning instruments in the laboratories and classrooms.
She was quick to added that several of these STEM Senior High Schools, including Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region, Abomoso in the Eastern Region, Kpasemkpe in the North, and Awaso in the Western north, among other locations, have already begun teaching and learning.
Again, Mrs Twum stated that the government is constructing 20 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) centres across the country.
The Accra High STEAM Centre, which is one out of the 20 STEAM Centres was commissioned a few weeks ago, with the other 19 located in various communities across the nation at various levels of completion, she said.
“We are confident that these 20 STEAM centres will transform the teaching and learning of STEAM in our schools. The good news about these STEAM centres is that right from Secondary schools our children can learn coding, electronics, robotics, game development and character design”.
Commendations
“As a government, we are vigorously pursuing this objective. However, we can do more when stakeholders like the MTN Ghana Foundation supports our efforts through projects such as this one”.
The Ministry of Education, Mrs Twum said recognises the tremendous contributions MTN Ghana Foundation has made over the past years to support government initiatives.
To the contractors working on this Center, she encouraged them to work within timelines so that they can all gather here again to commission the completed facility as scheduled.
“Now to my dear students, count yourselves privileged to have this Robotic Center and I encourage you to make maximum use of it when it is officially opened”.
The Chief of Mamfe, Osabarima Nana Ansah Sasraku III and the Headmistress of the Mamfe Methodist Girls’ Senior High School, Mrs Winifred Siebu Arthur also thanked MTN Ghana for this huge support.
