Business Senior High School in Tamale emerges winner of this years’ Senior High School Renewable Energy Commission Challenge

Business Senior High School, BISCO, in Tamale has emerged winner of this years’ Senior High School Renewable Energy Commission Challenge-SHSREC, in the northern region. BISCO beat six other schools with a construction of a smokeless charcoal substitute designed to reduce smoke emission into the atmosphere and fight climate change.
Tamale Girls’ Senior high school came second while Dabokpa technical institute was third respectively. Other contenders included; Ghana senior high school-GHANASCO, Northern school of business-NOBISCO, Savelugu senior high school, and Tamale technical institute.
The Energy Commission has introduced into its flagship programme, the Ghana Renewable Energy Fair, and this was done to help achieve one of the responsibilities of the commission under The Renewable Energy Act, 2011, Act 832, which is to promote the efficient use of electricity and the development of renewable energy resources through public education, training and regulation of entrepreneurs in the sector.
Under the Renewable Energy Act, 2021, Act 832, the Energy commission is mandated to promote the utilization and development of renewable energy as well as recommend and advise relevant stakeholders on the educational curriculum on efficient use of renewable energy sources and evolve programmes for its mainstreaming on the educational curriculum in Ghana.
In line with this, the Commission initiated the Senior High Schools’ Renewable Energy Challenge-SHSREC in 2019, with the aim of fostering an interest in renewable energy, in students of second cycle institutions. The challenge which is its second edition highlighted various renewable energy projects by senior high schools students and provided a platform for the exhibition of their innovative projects.
The Commission, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service seeks to provide education and awareness on renewable energy and energy efficiency among various Senior High schools and technical institutions in the country. Projects were put together by students under the guidance of their teachers.
A Representative of the northern regional Director of Education, Alhaji Alhassan Mumuni on behalf of the education directorate assures that the regional education directorate will ensure that Science Technology and Maths Education, STEM, Coordinator is given the needed resources and encouragement to work effectively.
He however said there was a need to invest in science and technology for students to be self-employed rather than searching for ‘white color jobs’ that do not exist. It will also enable the country compete in the technological world, he added. He said the SHSREC will enable students develop the research skills and promote technological innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency. ‘’With this challenge SHS students will be more creative in their thinking, which can help solve climate change and as well bridge the unemployment gap in the country’’, he noted.
The contestants of the winning school were however excited to represent the northern region at the zonal level in Accra. They have called for support from the other schools to help win the all-important competition. However, each of the seven participatory schools was presented a certificate of participation, cash prize of GHC 500 cedis and souvenirs from Bui Power Authority.
By: Lilian D. Walter/zaanews/Ghana