Days of learners having to imagine test tubes, bunsen burners and chemicals during science classes are soon to be the thing of the past in the small Northern Cape towns of Carnarvon and Williston.
On 25 February 2011, the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, will unveil state-of-the-art science and computer laboratories at Carnarvon High School, built with the help of the South Africa's Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.
If Africa wins the bid against Australasia, Carnarvon will host the SKA radio telescope, one of the world's biggest scientific projects.
After realising that very few learners from Carnarvon and Williston were taking mathematics and science as subjects to Grade 12, and that even those who did were failing the subjects, the SKA school programme, working with the private sector and the Department of Basic Education, intervened to provide these facilities.
It is hoped that these facilities and other support programmes will encourage learners from the towns not only to take mathematics and science up to tertiary level, but to become some of the next generation to provide the scarce skills necessary to run the SKA telescope.
Costing R750 000, the computer centre boasts 43 desktop computers, a laptop, an interactive board and a printer. Organisations such as Learn Things, Mindset and Microsoft donated software programmes and are also conducting training.
Optic 1 donated R50 000, which was used to purchase science laboratory equipment.
All media are invited.
For transport purposes, please RSVP by 12h00, 3 February to:
Zama Mthethwa
Tel: 012 834 6781
Cell: 082 808 3956
E-mail: zama.mthethwa@dst.gov.za
Veronica Mohapeloa
Tel: 012 843 6788
Cell: 082 882 3818
E-mail: veronica.mohapeloa@dst.gov.za
