JOHOR BARU: An anti-bullying wristband that triggers an emergency alert with a single click is just one of the many creations that have earned a Tamil school here eight awards in an international competition.
SJK (T) Taman Tun Aminah headmaster P. Sivasubramaniam said the group of 45 pupils, aged between 10 and 12, bagged six gold medals and two silvers at the International Science and Invention Fair in Bali, Indonesia, last month.
“The wristband is equipped with a wireless system that allows pupils to alert teachers when they are in danger by just pressing a button.
“It also features an impact sensor that triggers an alert when a victim experiences sudden force without having to press anything, and a built-in voice recorder that could capture evidence of abuse.
“That is just one of the creations. Our pupils have made the school proud with other innovations, including crayons made from rice husk, beeswax and natural dyes extracted from food waste,” he said.
Sivasubramaniam said other creations featured at the competition included a solar-powered mailbox, soundproof tiles, anti-larvae balls, soap and handwash made from durian husk, as well as eco-friendly paper made from charcoal.
“We are very proud of their achievements and hope that this will motivate them to continue exploring their creativity to solve real-world problems.
“Their achievement comes from months of hard work and dedication that the pupils, as well as their teachers, have put in to prepare for the competition.
“Preparations began about three months before the event, which went on even after school hours and on weekends,” he said, adding that it includes refining invention concepts and building prototypes.
The competition, held between Nov 12 and 15, saw the participation of 250 teams from various countries, including Mexico, Canada and Sri Lanka.
He said this was also not the first time the school had achieved success, as it had previously won awards in other global-level competitions.
“The school won two gold awards and a semi-grand award at the World Invention Creativity Contest in South Korea in 2019.
“In 2017, it won gold at the International Young Inventors Award in Jakarta, Indonesia,” he added.
Sivasubramaniam said the school plans to continue training pupils for international competitions.
“We are exploring participation in other global science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and innovation contests.
“We want the pupils to be exposed to international-level innovation platforms and gain a deeper interest in science and technology through such competitions.
“It is also a good way to encourage creativity and problem-solving skills while promoting the real-world application of STEM,” he said.
Sivasubramaniam also expressed his gratitude to the school’s parent-teacher association and all parties for their support.
“The pupils’ participation in the competition was made possible not only through the school allocation but also through contributions from parents and well-wishers,” he said.
