The fourth edition of the Robotics Inspired Science Education (RISE) competition for students of the northern sector of the country has ended in Tamale.

Five senior high schools (SHS) are Wa SHS, Bawku SHS, Navrongo SHS, St Francis Xavier SHS, and Salaga SHS, from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions participated in the competition.

RISE aims at helping to connect theories with practicals by applying the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) skills to address real world challenges as well as developing leadership skills, self-confidence, presentation and communication skills through the experience of Robotics competitions.

It is coordinated by the Ghana Robotics Academic Foundation (GRAF) in partnership with the United States Embassy in Ghana, and some corporate institutions.

This year’s northern sector competition saw teachers and students of selected schools strategise, design, build, programme and test autonomous robots to solve defined real world problems.

Dr Yaw Okraku-Yirenkyi, Director of RISE, urged schools and teachers to do enough practicals to enable them to prepare adequately for the competition to ensure improved output.

Dr Okraku-Yirenkyi commended the participating schools for their performance but urged teachers to do more to encourage students to dedicate themselves to the science of robots for improved performance in subsequent competitions.

Mr John Awuni, Head of Information and Communication Technology Department of Salaga SHS, said access to the internet amongst other technologies, were challenges at Salaga, a situation which affected the preparations and performance of the school at the competition.

Mr Awuni, however, assured of a better preparation and output in the subsequent competition.

Awards in various categories were presented to deserving schools but no school picked up the overall prize because their performances did not meet the excellence required.