Accra, July 7, GNA – St. Ignatius of Loyola Senior High School in the Upper West Region has emerged winner of the Northern Sector STEM Plastic Waste Competition for Catholic Senior High Schools in Ghana.
The school beat four other Catholic second-cycle institutions to claim the top prize in the fourth edition of the competition, held in Damango in the Savannah Region, where students showcased innovative products developed from plastic waste to address environmental pollution.
Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ Senior High School placed second, while St. Cyprian Minor Seminary Senior High School, St. Mary Technical and Vocational Senior High School and St. Bernadette’s Technical Institute also participated in the competition.
The event, organised by the Catholic Education Unit in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Ghana Office and other partners, provided a platform for students to apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) knowledge to develop practical solutions to plastic waste management.
The students exhibited products including solar ovens made from recycled plastic, plastic shredders and melters, raincoats, furniture and decorative items produced from plastic waste.
Ms Lawrencia Akosua Pomaa, Programmes Manager of KAS Ghana, said the competition sought to educate young people on the importance of proper plastic waste management and encourage innovation in recycling.
She said the initiative was also intended to expose students to the entrepreneurial opportunities in plastic recycling.
“We want to educate the younger generation on managing plastic waste well. We want them to learn about recycling plastic waste in a creative and innovative way,” she said.
“We equally want the young people to learn the value of making money too. The ideas they create have entrepreneurial benefits,” Ms Pomaa added.
Mr Francis Batadjan, General Manager of Catholic Schools, Ghana, said the competition challenged students to appreciate the environmental dangers posed by indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste and develop practical solutions to address the problem.
He said the initiative also promoted STEM competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, innovation, communication, collaboration and problem-solving, which are central to Ghana’s Common Core Curriculum.
The top three schools received cash prizes totalling GH¢10,000, as well as educational materials, including dustbins and calculators donated by Adminex Academy. Certificates were presented to all participating schools.
Plastic waste remains a major environmental challenge in Ghana, with indiscriminate disposal of plastics into drains and water bodies contributing to perennial flooding in many parts of the country.
Organisers expressed the hope that the competition would inspire innovative solutions and promote responsible waste management among young people.
GNA
Edited by George Agboklu