Stakeholders get first-hand glimpse at innovations designed by Sagicor participants

As a follow-up to the conclusion of the Sagicor Challenge Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the Education Ministry held a stakeholder workshop which targeted the private sector and the students who participated in the national and regional competitions. This gave the stakeholders, especially those from the private sector a glimpse of the innovativeness of the students.

At a workshop on Friday last, held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), students were able to share their experience during the competition and snippets about their projects; meanwhile, the private sector stakeholders which included representatives from the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and the University of Guyana were given the opportunity to comment on the students’ efforts.

It has been recognized that a better future for Guyana lies in the sciences and students must be encouraged along that line.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand addressing the gathering at the Sagicor stakeholder consultation held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

“We in the Government of Guyana recognizes that we cannot advance at the rate that we need to advance if we were to do business as usual as a country,” Minister of Education Priya Manickchand noted. Further, it is known that many countries struggle with the STEM subjects. Importantly, after much study the World recognizes that advances in the STEM subjects impact development.

“The Ministry of Education is not unaware of this challenge and we are prepared to meet it head-on, and so we are committed to honouring our obligation to providing an environment where teachers can explore and be creative, where children could feel the freedom to be creative and innovative themselves but more than that, children could feel urged on and encouraged to think outside of the box…we are committed to changing that,” she said.

While there are some challenges, the Ministry is prepared to do things to motivate and encourage both students and teachers.

Some of these efforts are evident in the introduction of the Micro Science kits which were given to several schools which do not have labs particularly in the hinterland. These kits seek to engage students in the sciences by using small amounts of chemicals while performing experiments.

Minister Manickchand questioned if the chalk and talk method is really working in terms of attracting students and gaining the best results. In response to that, the Minister indicated that the Ministry was able in 2012 to introduce the Inquiry Base Science Education programme. This was done with support from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and aims at generating interest among fifth and sixth grade primary school students in the Sciences.

Guyana is the second after Chile to introduce this form of learning in the classroom. Each school was provided with science kits containing items that facilitate experiments thereby shifting the way science is viewed.

On display is the Shrimp Dryer project designed by the students of Zeeberg Secondary School who won the national leg of the Sagicor Challenge competition in Guyana.

Minister Manickchand emphasized that these are two innovative methods used to promote the sciences and innovation in the classroom.

“We have seen successes in both of these programmes and we have seen the ability of our teachers and students to think and do more,” she said. The Sagicor Challenge was an addition which builds on what the Ministry was already doing.

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam in his presentation emphasized that Friday’s session is very important, especially in terms of the success of the Sagicor Challenge which brought out some of the best and brightest minds in the education system. He posited that this reflects positively on the output and holds well for the potential that exists in Guyana in terms of the STEM agenda.

“Given that platform it would be remiss of us not to extend that to its logical end where all of that hard work, all of those innovative concepts, all of that ingenuity – to discard that with just the competition alone, would have certainly been in our opinions a shortfall,” he said. In this regard, the decision was taken to move forward to bring together the stakeholders to see how collectively they can move to the next stage in terms of building a strong, sustainable base in relation to the STEM agenda.

Sam expressed the anticipation that as a result of these engagements, STEM and its related elements can be seen as one of the pillars of the educational structure that is sustained throughout the system.

“We in the education system have long appreciated that this agenda has to start from the lowest level…we must as individuals, understand that as early as the nursery level there are some fundamental concepts that can be imparted to our children,” he said.

Sagicor, the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) believe that innovations in STEM must play a crucial role in overcoming the challenges to building successful sustainable communities while motivating and encouraging students to pursue the sciences. It is hoped that there will be some solid commitments as to how the innovations can blossom into reality, particularly since they present solutions to everyday problems.

A section of the gathering at the Sagicor stakeholder consultation held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

The Sagicor Visionaries Challenge uses STEM in a manner that allows students to draw on their learning from Science, technology, engineering and maths to solve problems within their communities while contributing to a sustainable society.

The science competition attracted students from six regions, with 19 schools submitting 37 entries – the most in the Caribbean Region. Entries were judged on relevance to sustainability and creating sustainable communities.

Schools were judged in five categories. Best Presentation went to President’s College, Anna Regina and Zeeburg Secondary. Best use of S.T.E.M went to President’s College, Skeldon Line Path, Tagore and Zeeburg Secondary Schools. Best Plan and Project Design went to President’s College. Most Creative and Innovative Prize went to Zeeburg Secondary, Most Relevant to Sustainable Caricom Communities went to St Ignatius Secondary for its “Self sustainable water supply”. The third place overall prize went to Skeldon Line Path Secondary for its “Water filtration and purification system”. Second place overall went to President’s College for its “Biogas generation system” and the overall champion was Zeeburg Secondary with its “Use of a shrimp dryer to reduce air pollution”.

The winning team travelled to Barbados to compete in the Caribbean Regional Competition where they were yet again awarded for the best design.