UEW Partners with ACS to Deliver Practical Chemistry Education to Remote Learners
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has partnered with the American Chemical Society (ACS) to provide practical chemistry lessons beyond the traditional classroom to students of SDA Senior High School, Gomoa Jukwa. This outreach initiative aims to make science education more accessible and engaging for learners in remote communities.
The Chemistry Festival, held on Friday, 25th September, 2026, under the theme “Chemistry on Wheels: Bringing Chemistry to Remote Learners,” was organised with funding support from the ACS and brought together more than 200 students, teachers, parents, faculty members, volunteers and community stakeholders.
The initiative sought to stimulate students' interest in chemistry through hands-on experiments, interactive demonstrations and practical activities, directly engaging learners who might otherwise lack access to science education.
Chairing the programme, Dr. Charity Esenam Anor, a Senior Lecturer at UEW and Secretary of the Ghana International Chemical Sciences Chapter of the American Chemical Society, said the outreach was to demystify chemistry and help young people appreciate its relevance to their everyday lives. She noted that chemistry is present in virtually every aspect of daily life and encouraged students not to let a fear of the subject stand in the way of their career aspirations.
Dr. Charity Anor, who introduced a group of young chemistry professionals to the students, said the professionals had progressed in different fields through hard work, discipline, focused study and respect. She urged the learners to adopt the same values while pursuing their educational and career goals.
Welcoming the initiative, Mr. Jeffrey Abeiku Sam, the Assistant Headmaster in charge of Administration at SDA SHS, recalled that chemistry was taught abstractly during his student days. He noted that the festival’s practical approach gives learners a rare opportunity to master scientific concepts through direct observation and experimentation. He described the intervention as vital exposure for the students.
Ms. Afua Amoabea, a project team member, said the programme was designed to help students learn and experience chemistry using everyday materials while encouraging them to ask questions, discover new things and develop an appreciation for the subject.
The practical sessions featured five experimental stations covering acid-base indicators, a “big foam explosion,” chromatography, cleaning agents and invisible ink.
Through the acid-base indicator experiment, students used everyday substances to identify acidic and basic materials while the foam experiment demonstrated decomposition and the role of a catalyst using hydrogen peroxide and yeast.
The chromatography activity introduced learners to colour separation while the cleaning-agent experiment demonstrated practical chemistry by using household substances like baking soda and vinegar to remove stains.
The invisible-ink experiment showed how turmeric which contains a natural indicator, could reveal writing produced with baking soda solution. Facilitators further linked the principle to real-life applications, including the detection of hidden markings.
Dr. Nelly Adjoa Sakyi-Hagan, the Head of the Department of Integrated Science Education, said the festival was intended to help students understand that scientific concepts should not be learnt in isolation but applied to everyday life. She urged the students to transfer the knowledge gained from the festival to other science subjects. She noted the interconnectedness of scientific concepts across disciplines.
Dr. Nelly Sakyi-Hagan further encouraged the students to set higher educational and career goals beyond senior high school, emphasising determination, hard work and perseverance as essential to achieving their aspirations.
The Chemistry Festival is part of the UEW scholars' efforts to promote practical STEM education and inspire young people to pursue science-related careers by linking classroom concepts with real-world applications.
