Principals and Physical Science teachers from schools in Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga have lauded the mobile science lab project by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), saying it has helped improve the teaching and learning experience in their schools.
Initiated by the NYDA three years ago, the project is aimed at supporting underprivileged schools with mobile science labs equipped with lab apparatus to perform physical science experiments. The initiative provides teachers and learners with a platform to perform experiments, which they could otherwise not do due to lack of facilities. This helps enhance the teaching and learning experience.
Following the success of the project and a growing demand from other schools, the NYDA will next week rollout a similar campaign on a massive scale targeting 100 schools from disadvantaged areas, in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Free State.
“Often learners from disadvantaged schools only learn the theory of physical science, through the provision of the mobile labs the NYDA seeks to ensure that they are exposed to practical physical science experiments to enhance their learning and love for science. Already we are learning that as a result of this intervention more learners are taking up mathematics and physical science as subjects of choice, which is good for their career prospects,” says NYDA CEO Steven Ngubeni. “It is as a result of this success that we will be rolling out to more schools next week as part of our annual Back to School campaign,” he adds.
As part of the 2012 Back to School campaign the NYDA supported nine schools in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape with the mobile science labs. Three schools were selected per province targeting the three lowest performing provinces during the 2011 matric examinations.
“Since we started using the mobile science lab we have seen great rewards in our physical science class and our science marks have improved significantly from 22.2% in 2011 to 60% in 2012. The facility is assisting a great deal because we are now able to do practical demonstrations and the interest in science has improved among learners,” says school Principal Xolani Gqoloqa of Jongilanga High School from Kwelerha in the Eastern Cape.
Physical science teacher Johannes Mahlangu from Refilwe Secondary School in Mtetema-Limpopo also notes that more learners are now demonstrating a lot of interest in physical science since they started using the mobile labs to conduct their learning. “More learners are now showing a major interest and love for physical science. More learners starting from Grade 10 are now showing interest to do physical science, some are even changing from agriculture to do physical science,” he says. He says while the physical science mark has only improved slightly from 20% to 38%, for 2013 they expect more than an 80% pass mark for physical science because of the ability to conduct experiments and the interest shown by learners.
The overall matric pass has also improved in all the schools that benefited from the NYDA’s mobile science lab last year. “The needs of the economy and the overall development of the country is such that we must encourage young people to prioritise education. We must also encourage them to choose maths and science as subjects of choice,” says Ngubeni.
NB: Ngubeni and Higher Education Deputy Minister Mduduzi Manana will launch this years mobile lab project in Mpumalanga on Monday, 18 February 2013 where they will donate mobile sciences labs to various schools in the area, this will be followed by a similar visit to schools in Limpopo on Wednesday, 20 February 2013.
Members of the media are invited to the launch/donation as follows:
Mpumalanga
Date: 18 February 2013
Venue: Nqobangolwazi Secondary School Hall (Morgenzon between Ermelo and Standerton)
Time: 11h00 – 12h00
Limpopo
Date: 20 February 2013
Venue: Motsheudi Secondary School (Ga-Sekgopo, next to Modjadjiskloof)
Time: 11h-00 – 12h00
Free State
Date: 22 February 2012
Venue: Lenakeng Technical School (Welkom)
Time: 11h00 – 12h00
Eastern Cape
Date: 25 February 2013
Venue: Sakhisizwe Senior Secondary School (Zwide Port Elizabeth)
Time: 11h00 – 12h00
For media enquiries contact:
Siyabonga Magadla, National Youth Development Agency
Switchboard: 011 651 7000
Cell: 083 686 9016
E-mail: Siyabonga.magadla@nyda.gov.za
