Juaben SHS wins Cornell University IT competition in Ashanti Region

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By Gideon D. Ebbah, GNA

Kumasi (Ash), Jan 20, GNA – The Juaben Senior
High School (SHS), in the Juaben Municipality of Ashanti, has emerged winners
of a computer programming and coding competition organized by the Cornell
University in United States of America (USA).

The competition named “Code Afrique” is a
coding boot camp arranged by the Cornell University with the aim of
introducing, motivating and developing the interests of Ghanaian High School
students in computer programming skills and Computer Science.

The winning school competed with students of
14 other Senior High Schools in the Region at the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

The occasion afforded the participating
students the privilege of meeting to have firsthand interactions with Ghanaian
students who have excelled in the Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT) sectors in the USA.

The participating schools are; Opoku Ware,
Prempeh College, St. Louis, Yaa Asantewewaa, Serwaa Nyarko, TI AMASS, Kumasi
High School and Kumasi Girls among others.

Professor Robbert Van Renesse, a Research
Professor in Computer Science at the Cornell University, said the coding competition
for the students was part of a two-day workshop held to train and introduce the
students to basic programming skills.

It was also to provide them with the practical
opportunity to try their hands on some information technology (IT) programming
softwares such as the “Python” and build their interest in pursuing IT courses
at the tertiary level after graduating from the SHS.

“Pursing IT courses is not only a necessity
for modern day life demands, but a requisite for enhancing positive and easy
life in the society,” the Research Professor added.

He called on the government, various SHS
institutions and stakeholders to strengthen efforts in ensuring and sustaining
strong IT education especially at the SHS level.

Mrs. Josephine Mensah Opuni-Boachie,
Headmistress of the Juaben SHS, commended the Cornell University for the
initiative and her students for the award.

She urged the government and all educational
stakeholders to support the strengthening of ICT education in the country to
aid socio-economic advancement.

Ms. Amoakowaa Akosua Amoako, a final year
Science student and team leader of the winning school, commended her school
authorities for their contribution in ICT training that led to the prestigious
feat.

She also commended the Cornell University for
the opportunity and initiative and urged her peers to pursue IT courses, as
supplementary to their chosen courses of study.

GNA