Some of the school children operating in the smart and innovation lab
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has commissioned a $68,000 Smart Laboratory (Lab) and Innovation Centre for the New Atuabo Community Basic School in Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The facility is designed to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and digital tools into the learning experience and will equip students with 21st -century technological skills.
The Smart Lab and Innovation Centre was developed in partnership with Coral Reef, a Ghanaian technology firm with operations across Africa.
The centre is equipped with 50 high-performance tablets with a charging cabinet, 20 coding and robotics kits, two LEGO Prime robotics kits and 10 Arduino kits for programming.
The rest include three Quest Virtual Reality headsets; two laptops for instructors, a projector and a router for internet connectivity.
Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Gold Fields Ghana, Elliot Twum, said the initiative reaffirms the mining company’s commitment to education and community development.
He emphasized that the Foundation is dedicated to investing in education as a tool for transforming communities.
“For Gold Fields, education is crucial, and we believe in its transformative power,” he said. “Over the years, we have invested over $10 million in scholarships, classroom blocks, libraries, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centers, teacher accommodation, and skills training for youth in our host communities.”
He said the smart lab facility will support students from Primary five to JHS three at the New Atuabo Community Basic School and will be opened to other schools and interested adults in the community for AI and robotics training.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Tarkwa