National School Innovation Award: The Winning Laureates

The first edition of the national school innovation prize ended this Saturday.

The closing of this first edition is marked by the awarding of prizes to three winners from the three levels in the presence of the Minister of National Education, Mohamed Seghir Sadaoui.

742 projects at the national level

This first edition saw remarkable participation with 742 projects at the national level, consisting of 132 projects for primary level, 382 for middle school, and 228 for secondary school. The selection process was first carried out locally by wilaya commissions, which selected three projects based on a unified evaluation grid. The selected projects were then reviewed by a national commission tasked with designating the three final winners, one for each level of education.

In the primary level, the first place was awarded to student Zaga Mohamed Islam from Ouargla for designing an intelligent wheelchair to improve the mobility and autonomy of people with specific needs. In the middle school level, the first prize was given to student Miziani Sif Eddine for a project of an intelligent artificial hand based on capturing muscle signals. The device translates the electrical signals emitted by muscles into mechanical commands, allowing the prosthesis to function. In the secondary level, the first place was awarded to a collective project by students from Biskra for designing a single-arm robot inspired by industrial robotic systems, adapted for educational and assistance purposes.

Promotion of skills

The creators explain that their project aims to support people with disabilities in certain daily tasks, such as writing and object manipulation, with a perspective of improvement and future development.

Speaking at the closing ceremony held at Abdelhafid Ihaddaden Scientific and Technological Center in Sidi Abdallah (Algiers) under the theme of innovation in robotics, the minister expressed that this edition marks the start of a new dynamic aimed at “encouraging initiative spirit, scientific curiosity, and the ability of students to propose concrete solutions to contemporary challenges.” According to him, this competition goes beyond a simple competition between schools, becoming a real platform for showcasing emerging talents and promoting skills.

Preparing generations capable of adapting to technological changes

Sadaoui also emphasizes the Sector’s ambition to train generations capable of adapting to technological changes and actively contribute to a society based on knowledge and innovation. The minister commended the “remarkable” work of the national commission.

The commission is composed of robotics experts from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the National Institute of Research in Education, as well as specialized inspectors in computer science, mathematics, and electrical engineering. He also paid tribute to the efforts of the pedagogical and administrative teams involved in guiding the students.

Expansion of scientific clubs

Highlighting the quality of the presented projects, the minister stated that the participants’ achievements reflect a real capacity for innovation, analysis, and proposition. “Digitizing the educational sector and promoting innovation are two essential levers for building a modern and efficient school,” reaffirms the minister. In continuation of this dynamic, Sadaoui stresses the need to firmly establish a culture of innovation within schools, making this competition an annual event to consolidate and evolve.

Pointing out the rise of scientific clubs, as well as robotics and artificial intelligence clubs, the minister mentioned that “the Sector now has 12,574 scientific clubs, 95 robotics clubs, and 99 dedicated to artificial intelligence.” This growth demonstrates the increasing interest of students in disciplines related to science and technology.

Samira Azzegag