Students displaying their futuristic bridge
The 2026 Ghana Science & Tech Explorer Challenge Prize (GSTEP) has been officially launched, with schools in the Volta Region set to participate in the challenge for the very first time.
This year’s challenge which is under the theme, ‘Curiosity to Impact: STEM Without Borders,’ has expanded to the Volta Region in a major step toward making practical Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education accessible to more students across Ghana.
The virtual launch, hosted via Zoom and streamed live on Facebook, brought together teachers, students, and STEM stakeholders.
This year’s Challenge builds on the successes of previous editions held in the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Ashanti Regions, which have seen over 30,000 students, 2,000 teachers and 500 schools benefit from hands-on STEM experiences.
It is implemented by a consortium of four organisations: DreamOval Foundation (lead implementor), Partnership Bureau (partnerships and sponsorships), Shulem Lake (resources and materials), and Practical Education Network (mentorship and coaching).
The GSTEP Challenge operates in partnership with the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education and is funded by the Fondation Botnar.
Executive Director of the DreamOval Foundation, Afua Oforiwaa Asiamah Adjei, said the expansion to the Volta Region makes it possible for even more young innovators to be part of this life-changing journey.
“This expansion brings us closer to our vision of making GSTEP a truly national platform where every child, no matter where they come from, can access the opportunities and skills that STEM education provides,” she said.
Founder of GSTEP, Constance Agyeman, reflected on the programme’s progress and its growing national impact.
“Last year alone, over 1,000 innovative ideas were submitted by students who used STEM to address local challenges — from clean energy and sustainable farming to smart city innovations.”
Lead for Partnership & Alliance at Partnership Bureau, Francis Ahene-Affoh, noted that “Over the years, we have witnessed incredible solutions and inventions from technology that improves innovations that support agriculture, aquaculture, road traffic management, education, and climate resilience.”
He added that these ideas prove that given the right platform, young junior high students are capable of transforming curiosity into real impact.”
Applications for the 2026 GSTEP Challenge are open to Junior High Schools in Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti, and Volta regions. Interested school can register via www.gstep.org.gh to apply.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak