Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

02/03/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/03/2023 08:25

PR No. 14 Federal Directorate of Education and STEAM Pakistan celebrate STEAM Compe

The Federal Directorate of Education, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in partnership with STEAM Pakistan organized a multi-level STEAM Competition for FDE schools across Islamabad, culminating in a celebration for winners and top performing schools yesterday. STEAM Pakistan seeks to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics for all government school students, especially girls. Arts is an essential addition to the traditional 'STEM' model to strengthen innovation, creativity, and social learning. Announced in January, the competition was open for all government middle and high schools. A total of 167 schools participated in the qualifying round. Qualifying students were invited to compete in any of three categories - Building Blocks, Arts in Action, and STEAM Rock Star. Building Blocks required students to build dynamic models related to a STEAM concept. Entries included functioning water filtration plants, earthquake detectors, robots, and more! Arts in Action required students to showcase learning concepts in creative and innovative art - entries for this round included beautiful paintings, sculptures and models, and drawings. The final category, STEAM Rock Star, required students to develop raps, poems, or songs that teach STEAM concepts. Entries included raps about the function of a human heart and physics concepts, songs about the potential science holds, and more! Students competed at the area level in six sectors of Islamabad - Bhara Kau, Nilore, Urban I, Urban II, Tarnol, and Sihala. Teachers also had the chance to compete for having the 'Perfect Pedagogy'. Winning students and teachers from each sector had the full red-carpet experience along with cash prizes and recognition from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional training! 21 exceptional student entries were awarded PKR 5,000 each, and 15 top student entries across all categories were awarded 20,000-25,000 PKR each. Top teachers were awarded 20,000 PKR each for submitting entries of innovative and engaging teaching techniques. Additionally, Mr. Aamir Khawaja, Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Education announced cash prizes worth PKR 50,000 each for sever schools which performed exceptionally throughout the year based on the STEAM School Journey. He encouraged the schools to utilise the funds in organisaing more STEAM activities for students. All 1,200+ students in attendance had special sessions curated for them. These included arts activities, science demonstrations, music and math performance, STEAM game-show and STEAM Safeer speaker sessions from exceptional leaders from FIA, corporate sector, sports, and PIA, and science demonstrations. Mr Aamir Khawaja also encouraged students to work hard and follow their dreams. Mr. Waseem Ajmal, Additional Secretary MoFEPT was also in attendance and in his closing remarks encouraged students to keep pushing, ask questions, stay curious, and look up to people like Galileo who pushed the boundaries of accepted knowledge.