The Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, handed over a mobile science outreach unit to the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDE) in the Cofimvaba District today.
The mobile laboratory is part of the Technology for Rural Education and Development (Tech4Red) initiative, led by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), which aims to establish whether the introduction of innovative technologies can improve the quality of teaching and learning in rural areas.
A science centre is envisaged for the Cofimvaba district. This will contribute to DST's efforts to raise awareness of science, engineering and technology (SET) among the general public, and to inspire young people to pursue studies and careers in SET-related fields.
The mobile laboratory is part of the envisaged science centre. In the 2013/14 financial year, the DST, through its Programmatic Support Grant Intervention for science centres, which is managed by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, awarded a grant of R500 000 to the Sasol Inzalo Foundation (SaIF), a DST partner in the Cofimvaba development initiative, towards the acquisition of a panel van customised to serve as a mobile outreach unit.
The SaIF topped up this grant with R343 000, for the purchase of laboratory equipment and the training of facilitators and teachers.
SaIF will also be responsible for the initial stages of both the management and the implementation of the outreach programme, including the training of the mobile lab facilitator.
The training will include training on:
- the use of the mathematics laboratory equipment;
- performing all the prescribed experiments and the use of all science equipment in the mobile unit;
- how to facilitate laboratory sessions when visiting schools;
- laboratory safety; and
- advanced/defensive driving.
The ECDE will be responsible for the staffing of the centre and has recently advertised for a mobile lab facilitator. In addition to the training referred to above, the facilitator will undergo training as a mentor during the second half of 2014, so that he/she is able to mentor educators in the project schools by running a series of workshops for them. The workshops will focus on effective teaching skills and how to integrate practical work in daily teaching.
For more information, please contact:
David Mandaha
Cell: 072 126 8910
E-mail: David.Mandaha@dst.gov.za
Khanyisa Ngobeni
Cell: 079 968 8131
E-mail: Khanyisa.Ngobeni@dst.gov.za
