A national Science and Maths quiz to whip up the interest of catholic junior high schools in the subjects, has been launched in Accra with 120 schools shortlisted to compete in the maiden edition.
Dubbed “Brain Battle Quiz (BBQ)”, the competition would start in September this year with regional contests through which the best schools would qualify for the national championship.
Aside a trophy, the winning school, would receive Ghc10, 000 and an educational trip to China while the runner up, would take home Ghc5, 000 and a laptop computer.
The BBQ is an initiative of the National Catholic Secretariat Education Directorate in collaboration with the Cocktail Media and Profile Ghana, a private multimedia organisation.
In an address at the ceremony on Friday, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie, said the quiz was in line with the church’s contribution to education, evident by the number of educational institutions the church had established in the country.
Apart from demystifying the study of Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics and (STEM), he said the competition, particularly its practical aspect, would help unleash the students’ innovative skills which would propel the development of the country.
“It will also prepare them for the National Science and Maths Quiz which catholic schools have performed excellently over the years with a catholic school being the reigning champion”, he said.
Archbishop Kwofie tasked all Ghanaians to support the competition and efforts to promote STEM education. To the students, he asked them to work hard and make their school, parents and the church proud.
The General Manager of Catholic Schools, Mrs Doris Eshun said STEM education had become relevant due to the digital revolution, projecting that about 80 per cent of future jobs would require STEM.
For this reason, she said putting measures in place for students to grasp STEM education at the various stages of education was good as it would help build strong foundation for them.
She admonished parents and teachers to encourage more females to take part in the contest and other STEM related activities to increase the number of women excelling in science sphere of work.
Mr Samuel Owusu-Boateng, a representative of the Cocktail Media and Profile Ghana, said the shortlisted schools were selected last year and hoped that the cooperation the initial stages received would linger on.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR AND ALBERTA BRONI
