St Andrew High School for Girls has emerged as the winner of the second annual Flow Girls in ICT Day coding challenge.

The team of 10 third-form students was the first to complete a series of challenges during the 90-minute exercise designed by STEM Builders Learning Hub. 

The young ladies were rewarded for their efforts with Samsung tablets and data plans courtesy of Flow and the Flow Foundation.

Following closely behind, St Jago High School secured the second position while Campion College rounded out the top three. Both teams also received tablets and smartphones, respectively.

The activity formed part of Flow’s commemoration of Girls in ICT Day 2024.

Over 300 third-form students were part of Flow’s Expo and Conference, which included a keynote address from aerospace engineer Ayanna Samuels; a pep talk with 14-year-old computer science undergraduate student at University of Technology, Jamaica Jada Wright; and displays from entities across the private and public sectors.

Minister with responsibility for digital Skills and transformation Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon and Flow Foundation Chairman Stephen Price also addressed the young women. 

Flow Business Communications Manager Deleen Powell, the Girls in ICT Day project lead, said the company is satisfied with the event’s turnout and participation.

“We are heartened that we had over 30 high schools in attendance. More than 50 per cent of the young ladies expressed interest in pursuing ICT studies, indicating our impact in fostering inclusion and driving interest in the field,” she said.

STEM Builders Learning Hub CEO Kavelle Hylton emphasised the transformative nature of the coding challenge. Using the 3-D software programme Tinkercad, the students were introduced to C+ coding and guided in building circuits.

”Coding serves as a gateway to invaluable skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking. Despite initial apprehension, the young ladies showcased remarkable enthusiasm and confidence, underscoring their potential to excel in ICT,” says Hylton

Flow’s Girls in ICT Day Expo and Conference received endorsement from the International Telecommunications Union.