Education Ministry launches Reg’ 4 STEAM exhibition

Mar 06, 2018 News

Students from the Virginia Primary School showcase their math game at the STEAM fair.

The Ministry of Education yesterday launched a two-day Biennial Science, Technology, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fair at the Diamond Secondary School with the theme: “Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics paving the way for a green and sustainable society.”

The fair is hosted by the Department of Education, Region Four, in collaboration with the Region Four Democratic Council, (RDC).

It is expected to attract the Nursery, Primary, and Secondary departments from over 40 schools. Participating schools were challenged to create a project reflecting the STEAM theme.

During the launch, yesterday, students attending and participating in the STEAM fair 2018, were urged to be inquisitive in order to pave the way for a green and sustainable society.

Coordinator of the fair, Loren Park, said that the fair is being used as a platform to showcase students’ skills and abilities, noting that the fair provides an opportunity for a collective future with a shared destiny.

At the fair, students from participating schools exhibited some impressive projects. Exhibitions ranging from math games using recycled items, carbon bins, household items using banana leaves among many other things.

For some students, creating the STEAM project for the two-day exhibition was an exciting activity that taught them valuable lessons that can be transferred to everyday life; it also made learning easier.

“We have to create fun projects to assist with the learning process,” said Carmelita Sukhdeo, a teacher at the Virginia Primary school.

The enthusiastic students from Helena Primary School explained that their project, which portrays the importance of the three Rs (reuse, reduce and recycle) was quite an exciting assignment to work on.

They said it was a learning experience that will not stop in the classroom but one that will also be practised at home.

One exhibition showcased how students can easily learn Mathematics through playing games. It teaches the order of operation and multiplication while incorporating popular characters such as Minions to make the game fun.

All of the materials used to create these games were reused cardboards, plastic bottles and other items.

While more focus was placed on the Science, Maths, Engineering and Technology, STEM field throughout the years, the Ministry of Education has moved to include Arts because of its importance.

As such, students from the Home Economics Department are now able to get involved in exhibitions of this nature.

At the opening of the exhibition, Senior Lecturer of the University of Guyana, Dr. Elroy Charles, said that there are a number of areas in which work needs to be done in order to achieve the green state agenda.

He said that efforts must be made to reduce post-harvest loss to be transformed into economic gain.

Exhibits are being judged and students will be given the results at the end of the exhibition.