The maiden edition of African Robotics Competition for schools has been held in Accra. It was put together by CKBS – a training for children in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics. CKBS is also a hub for Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Education with special interest in technology robotics, AI Coding and programming, among others.
The competition which is scheduled to be an annual event had children from selected pre-schools, basic and Senior high schools participating in robotic games to demonstrate their knowledge in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.
Among others, the objective of the competition was to allow the children to make telling contributions in the sphere of STEM as far as Basic and Second Cycle learnings are concerned.
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are new advanced technologies which are programmable machines or gadgets that can be used in place of humans to perform a range of tasks by executing input commands.
Robots are invented to help humans in carrying out various tasks especially large volumes of work which requires repetitive routines. Robots are very useful in risky and hazardous tasks. They are used mostly for forced labour or drudgery servitude.
Organizers of the competition have however lamented the slow level at which Ghana is embracing the AI revolution even though it is impacting all aspects of life across the world. They are of the view that even though Artificial Intelligence has been tipped to define the future of the labor market, most African countries are slow to invest in it. They feared the continent would soon be left behind if the situation is not taken more seriously.
Administrator and Student Affairs Coordinator for CKBS, Roselyn Oparebea Avagar Tawiah told ghananewsonline.com.gh in an interview that it is time for the Ghana Education Service (GES) to take Artificial Intelligence and robotics seriously and integrate it into its educational curriculum as a major subject rather than as an extra-curricular activity.
“I want to appeal to the GES and Ministry of Education to know that technology and AI is going far; so, it is about time we embrace it,” she appealed. She also appealed to the government to take strong measures in adopting STEM and make it work.
“Most schools out there claim to be doing AI robotics but they are doing it as an extra-curricular activity. We are suggesting to them to make it a mainstream subject, given enough time like other subjects so that the kids can fully benefit from it,” Avagar Tawia stated.
Her appeal was based on the fact that most of the public schools they wanted to include in the competition declined the offer with the excuse that AI was not part of the courses authorized by the GES. She said the few private schools that expressed interest also did not have the requisite capacity to compete.
“You go out there to the schools and they tell you AI is not a GES approved subject. You get some heads telling you that it is not GES approved so we can’t do that. Other schools would want to embrace it but they do not have the requisite facilities,” she added.
Speaking on the topic “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the impartation in Education for Basic and Senior High Schools in Ghana”, the Municipal Director of Education at Hohoe in the Volta Region, Juliet Valerie Datsa-Agbotse, who delivered the keynote address at the event lauded the efforts of the organizers and hopped that the competition would unearth talents and position the participants to fearlessly pursue STEM to the highest heights attainable.
“Robots have already made their mark in education and will continue to do so. However, how useful or potentially harmful robots can be to education will depend more on how educators and students chose to use them on the technology itself. Education must embrace the latest skills and knowledge for effective teaching. That’s why we should embrace robotics which is breaking new grounds in learning methods around the world,” she stated.
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“It is therefore heartwarming to note that as part of the review of the curriculum for Basic and Second Cycle Schools in the country, government is introducing a strong focus on STEM education in order for our children to be exposed to cutting edge knowledge and skills in this area at a tender age.
“In this way we can hope to raise more STEM-oriented individuals who would form the critical mass to cause Ghana to take full advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution which is characterized by Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Robotics, Advanced Automation, Cyber-Physical Systems, Cognitive Computing, among others,” Madam Datsa-Agbotse noted.
The occasion was also used to commission CKBS new office at the premises of PWD yard near Tema Station in Accra.
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By Jeorge Wilson Kingson and Derrick Botsyoe