A Science Teaching and Learning Centre (STLC) was officially opened at Wesbank No.1 Primary School last week Thursday 21 July.
This is one of 87 such centres that have been constructed at schools in three provinces since 2011 in partnership between non-profit company Advancing Knowledge, Garden Cities Archway Foundation and the respective provincial education departments.
The centres are an extension of curriculum support provided by Advancing Knowledge which focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) education. It also serves as reward to committed science teachers, school management and learners.
The driving force behind the initiative is Professor Shaheed Hartley, director of both the Science Learning Centre for Africa at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Advancing Knowledge.
Hartley said it’s called Science Teaching and Learning Centres as it “goes beyond a laboratory”.
It is all about intriguing learners to make them enthusiastic to learn science. Activities are used to demonstrate concepts, principles and theory and science teachers are trained to implement and impart knowledge to the learners. Science is made practical and visible.
“The achievement of South African learners in recent international benchmark tests (eg. TIMMS 2019) paints a very dim picture and one that points to a national crisis,” Hartley said.
“Developing a culture of science teaching and learning is a good start to prepare learners to take up their place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)”.
Advancing Knowledge developed courses for teachers that are endorsed by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (Saasta) that deals with teaching science in foundation, intermediate and senior phases.
Wesbank No.1 Primary School principal Greg Gordon said they will be looking at collaboration with neighbouring schools by making the centre available for use.
Science teacher, Hanlie Zwaan, said the addition to the school is a privilege for which they accept responsibility and accountability. “We want to convey our utmost thanks to the various partners involved.”
Director of Garden Cities Archway Foundation Myrtle February, a former school principal herself, said she knows what it means to receive such a facility.
According to John Matthews, CEO of Garden Cities, the Science TLC project is one of the vehicles through which they as a corporate organisation invest in meeting South Africa’s future human resource .
Organisations and corporates that want to contribute to this iniative can contact Prof Hartley at shartley@skatt.co.za or 083 793 0436.
