Science teaching and learning at schools in the Overberg got a massive boost when Hawston Primary School, Fisherhaven Academy and Bissetsdrift Academy recently celebrated the official opening of brand-new science laboratories.
The construction of the Science Teaching and Learning Centres was made possible through the partnership between Advancing Knowledge Non-
Profit Company (AK NPC), Garden Cities Archway Foundation and the Western Cape Education Department which aims to support teaching and learning of
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at schools. The four new Science TLCs that were opened on Monday 25 August, brings the total of new Science TLCs constucted at Western Cape Schools since 2011 to 118.
Other schools in the Overberg that have already benefited from this programme include Emil Weder Secondary in Genadendal, De Heide Primary in Bredasdorp, De Rust Futura Academy and Groenberg Secondary in Grabouw.
The construction of the Science TLCs is an extension of the curriculum support of teachers and learners provided by AK NPC and serve as reward to committed science teachers, school management and learners.
The support comes, firstly, in the form of training for committed and passionate science teachers to improve the culture of science teaching and secondly through interesting and stimulating science projects such as science clubs, competitions and such to improve the culture of science learning. The Science Teaching and Learning Centres serve as the hub in which the cultures of science teaching and science learning can be incubated to prepare learners for the future challenges in STEM.
Prof Shaheed Hartley, Director of Advancing Knowledge Non-Profit Company (AK NPC), stated: “We have to start with the basics in terms of supporting teachers to have the confidence to teach inquiry-based science with an advanced level of understanding, knowledge and skills. Similarly, we have to be creative in providing learners with opportunities that will draw their interest and willingness to develop the critical inquiry skills to participate in STEM activities. Having a confident and knowledgeable science teacher in an enabling environment provided by the Science Teaching and Learning Centres is an excellent start.”
John Matthews, CEO of Garden Cities, added: “The Science TLC project is one of the vehicles through which we as a corporate organisation invest in meeting South Africa’s future human resource needs in STEM, especially within a 4IR environment.”
Organisations and corporates that would like to contribute to this initiative to empower and capacitate science practitioners to build a critical mass of future STEM students, are encouraged to make contact with the head of AK NPC, Hartley, at shartley@skatt.co.za or
083 793 0436.
