By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY
AmaliTech, in collaboration with Access Bank, has hosted a coding competition for students enrolled in the Coding for Kids (C4K) programme at Takoradi, Western Region.
The initiative sought to equip young learners with digital skills, allowing them to exhibit what they have learnt over the past months.
The competition
The coding competition allowed students to showcase the skills they have acquired; competing in tasks that involve creating websites, solving coding challenges and demonstrating their innovative projects.
The event aimed at inspiring students to continue their journey into the world of technology, encouraging problem-solving, collaboration and creativity.
The five schools that participated in the competition were: Garrison Basic, Myohaung Forces, Myohaung Barracks, Defence Basic as well as Airforce Complex.
Garrison Basic School emerged as tthe winner.
Antoinette Clement, a JHS 3 student with Team Garrison, in an interview with the B&FT said: “We were able to create a website, just like the example we were given; and this enabled us to be on top”.
Patrick Sackey, Head of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Garrison Basic School explained: “The students had the basics that qualified them to win this competition”.
He urged stakeholders in education to support the school ICT Centre with laptops, thus enabling the children to learn more.
About the C4K Programme
Launched in November 2023, the programme, is aimed at fostering digital literacy and providing foundational coding knowledge to Primary and Junior High School (JHS) students in Ghana.
It is designed to nurture creativity, innovation and technical skills, with a focus on equipping young students with tools that are essential for thriving in today’s digital world.
The initiative is part of Access Bank’s broader commitment to empowering the youth through technology, aligning with global efforts to bridge the digital divide and prepare young people for future careers in technology.
Also, AmaliTech through various training and social impact initiatives aims to bridge the digital skills gap and create meaningful job opportunities.
Key Achievements
Teachers from Garrison schools in Takoradi underwent an intensive ‘train the trainers’ session, where they were equipped with the skills necessary to teach HTML and CSS. This session laid the groundwork for high-quality coding education in schools.
Since the launch of coding clubs in participating schools, over 500 students have actively engaged in learning coding languages such as HTML and CSS. Their enthusiasm and dedication have been evident in consistent attendance and participation at the weekly sessions.
