November the tenth has been marked by UNESCO as the “World Science Day,” which is commemorated every year since 2001. As a part of this, the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, STEM power and STEM Synergy jointly organized the sixth annual National Science and Engineering Fair with a theme “Science for and with Society in dealing with the global pandemic” at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University last week.
The world is becoming more and more complex in the 21st century. For example, the spread of drug-resistant diseases climate change are becoming a major challenge for humans and other living things. The rapid growth of technology such as telecommunications, transportation, cyber security, artificial intelligence, and food and agricultural technologies such as food production technologies are also growing rapidly.
The expansion of genetic engineering, automation and digitalization of offices are also essentials to be given attention.
In his closing speech on the four days event, Prof. Berhanu Nega, Minister at Education Ministry, said in consolidating the above reasons: “It is difficult to carry out common tasks of the century without the support of science and technology. Consequently, knowledge and skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are becoming increasingly important in the modern economy.”.
More specifically, he says: “STEM is becoming the driving force behind a country’s economy.” STEM sectors in many countries are creating a lot of jobs at all levels. In the USA, for example, STEM jobs increase by 17% annually, creating about 2.8 million jobs each year.
For that reason, many countries use science and technology education for three main purposes, he further details them. The first is to produce a middle-class manpower that can mobilize the country’s economy (for economic development). The second is to produce highly trained STEM professionals in the fields and to enable the whole society to have basic scientific and digital knowledge or to provide the society with 21st century skills.
In this regard, “Our country, Ethiopia, has been doing a lot of work in the sector. She is also working. The establishment of a Science and Mathematics Improvement Center by the Ministry of Education is a demonstration to the country’s efforts,” he noted.
Thirdly, the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP3) should focus on the development of a well-educated and skilled workforce. This is clearly stated in the Education Sector Development Plans (ESDPs) and National Strategic Policy of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, he pointed them out.
To achieve this, a number of activities in the sector will be held on the occasion of the International Science Day, which is celebrated every year on November 10, at the federal level to create student and teacher creativity competitions and to encourage and recognize the work being done in the sector, he detailed them.
Competition for general education students will be organized between 7th and 8th; 9th and 10th, and 11th with 12th. Equally, teachers will compete at the grade level in which students are assigned to compete. The competitions will include students and teachers from various STEM Centers.
Furthermore, Prof. Berhanu disclosed that the creative competition is believed to provide students with a good opportunity to transform their theoretical knowledge into problem-solving and useful creative work. In addition, the exhibition provides a platform for students to be encouraged and develop their creativity in the field, to showcase their work and experience, and to practice scientific methods and procedures for creative work.
So far, the exhibition has been organized nationally by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with STEM synergy, STEM power, UNESCO, the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science and Technology (now the Ministry of Innovation and Technology), Kotebe Metropolitan University, and other partners.
In the general education sector, the nation has able to facilitate competitions between grades 7 to 8, 9 to 10, 11 to 12 both in the 2019 and 2020 among students as well as between teachers.
Students from STEM Centers the creative work competitions were held between Robotics and Engineering. And the best performing regions and students who ranked first to third were awarded certificates, trophies, laptops and cash prizes. In each round, female students have also competed with each other and the reward has created great encouragement in their career creative works, Prof. Berhanu noted.
“To abridge the innovations presented over the past five years, supporting information by technology; modernizing agriculture and household chores, traditional medicines, environment protection, and alternative energy sources were the major focuses.” Prof. Berhanu summarized them.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it was not possible to hold the creative work competition in one place. As a result, it was done online in collaboration with STEM power. As well, this year’s World Science Day-November 10- coincided with the 12th grade university entrance exam, so the competition or the exhibition time was slightly postponed, he reasoned out.
Therefore, this year’s Science Day was organized between November 29 to December 3, 2021, jointly by Ministry of Education, STEM Synergy, UNESCO and STEM Power under the theme “Science for and with Society in Dealing with the Global Pandemic.”
This year, STEM Synergy and STEM power have facilitated the competition for students from grades 7 to 12 in 99 projects and teachers from 33 projects.
In the same way, there are 36 projects from STEM centers in the robotics sector and 72 projects in the engineering sector. Totally there are 207 innovations which are greater in quantity with expected better quality.
Moreover, Prof. Berhanu unveiled that 14 laptops and 14 tablet computers are purchased by STEM Synergy and STEM Power for this year’s winners. Encouraging efforts have been made from time to time to improve the participation of judges in both numbers and quality to ensure the fairness of the assessment system. And the recruitment process of the judges was carried out in in-depth discussions with the relevant bodies on the criteria for the recruitment of judges.
In general, science is a key to mitigate societal problems and to equip children as future work force. Early exposure in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) plays a critical role in preparing children and youth for 21st century labor demands. It is also vital to nations’ global competitiveness, economic growth and overall societal standard of living.
Understanding this fact, the Ministry of Education, pioneers in introducing and strengthening STEM education in Ethiopia foreseeing self-sustained Ethiopia and Africa through technology determined economic transformation. To realize its set vision, the Ministry has facilitated the establishment of STEM centers across Ethiopia for experiential learning and drive students to innovation, Prof. Berhanu concludes.
BY DIRRIBA TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD DECEMBER 10/2021
