By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has handed over a US$68,000 Smart Lab and Innovation Centre to Atuabo Basic School at Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The facility is critical for students to foster hands-on training, nurture creativity and problem-solving abilities as well as prepare them for the future.
It is equipped with 50 high performance tablets with a charging cabinet, 20 coding and robotics kits, two Lego Prime robotics kits, 10 Arduino kits, three Quest Virtual Reality headsets, two laptops for the instructors, a projector and a router for internet connectivity.
In addition to teaching mandatory Computational Skills, the facility will also train pupils from all 10 basic schools in this community, as well as any adults interested in basic robotics and AI at a fee.
The facility is well-equipped to handle courses such as Introduction to Robotics and Coding with mBot; Introduction to Arduino Programming using Tinkercard and Physical Computing with Micro bits, among many other exciting programmes.
Elliot Twum, Senior Vice President and Managing Director-Gold Fields Ghana, said with the growth of Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, the Foundation set up a Smart Lab and Innovation Centre as a pilot project for advancing the integration of technology and digital tools into the teaching and learning experience.
“This is referred to as Education 4.0 and it promotes learners’ independence as well as provides personalised learning,” he said.
In 2022, he recalled, Ghana Education Service (GES) introduced Computational Thinking as part of the curriculum for basic school education in Ghana.
Unfortunately, he said, a lot of public basic schools in the country do not have facilities to support the subject’s teaching and learning.
“Teachers in some basic schools, especially schools located in smaller communities, depend solely on textbooks to teach this subject… with no practical aspect. This takes a lot away from the teaching and learning experience. Government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of development. An economy such as ours may not be able to provide all public schools with the gadgets and resources required for the new age of education,” he explained.
Mr. Twum continued: “Corporate Ghana also has a critical role to play. It is to this end that the Foundation took the decision to pilot the Smart Lab and Innovation Centre concept in partnership with Coral Reef – a Ghanaian-owned institution within this space with footprints across several African countries”.
According to him, the Foundation has over the years invested over US$10million to help secure the future of young people in host communities and has provided scholarships, classroom blocks, libraries and ICT centres, early childhood development centres, teaching and learning materials, accommodation for teachers and the education directorate among others.
George Effah, Acting Western Regional Director-GES, in an address read for him urged headteachers, staff and learners to put measures in place to derive the full benefits of this facility.
“I charge you to ensure regular and proper maintenance of this facility. Promote strict supervision and maintenance at the centre. Learners should be allowed to use and manipulate the computers so that they can master them and reflect on their performance,” he added.
He expressed appreciation to Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for their magnanimity, thoughtfulness and inestimable support in ensuring the development of education in Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality and the Western Region.
Nana Kweku Baah II, Chief of Atuabo Community, was grateful to the Foundation for support in the catchment are over the years.
He urged the school management committee to keep an eye on the project and ensure it’s maintenance.
Madam Janet Amponsah, a member of the Facility Management Committee said: “We have a dedicated management board to oversee efficient management of the facility to ensure it sustainability”.
Nana Abena Baduwa II, Queen Mother of Apinto, also praised the Foundation for corporate social interventions in the communities of their operational area.
