|
Mobile lab to boost science and maths at Cofimvaba schools Excited learners and teachers from the rural Cofimvaba District in the Eastern Cape welcomed the handover of a mobile laboratory unit by the former Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom in April this year. The facility was jointly funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), through its programmatic support grant funding managed by SAASTA, and a private sector partner, the Sasol Inzalo Foundation.
Handing over the lab at Cofimvaba Secondary School, former Minister Hanekom encouraged learners to make full use of the facility to improve their performance in Mathematics and Science. He said that this would pave their way to exciting and worthwhile careers in science and technology. The principal of the school, Ms Noluntu Sabatha, said the laboratory was a blessing to the schools in the district as they had struggled for years to establish a proper science resource centre. "We thank the Department of Science and Technology and Sasol for this prestigious gift; we promise to take good care of it and we believe it will assist in improving matric results in our schools," she said. Hands-on learning The mobile science lab is equipped with science apparatus and chemicals to enable teachers and learners to conduct prescribed school experiments. The facility will pay scheduled visits to targeted schools on a daily basis to conduct hands-on science experiments with the learners to enable them to acquire an understanding of science concepts through practical work. Upon arrival on the school premises, the science equipment carried in the mobile lab will be used to convert ordinary classrooms into well-equipped laboratories in a matter of minutes. Mobile lab sessions will be conducted by well-trained mobile lab facilitators with the assistance of the teachers. The programmes will also assist with enrichment and revision lessons in both Science and Mathematics. The lab carries the MathLab state-of-the art IT equipment, consisting of 15 tablets and a mobile server which will be used in the teaching of Mathematics. Teacher training and mentoring Activities of the mobile lab will involve providing mentorship to Science and Mathematics teachers in targeted schools. Through this intervention, regular visits will be paid to teachers in their schools for coaching and mentoring sessions. This will involve class visits and one-on-one reflection. This approach will focus on empowering individual teachers in accordance with their strengths and needs. The mobile lab facilitator to be appointed by the Eastern Cape Provincial Department will be trained in mentorship techniques. One of the partners in the project, the CSIR, will roll out ICT infrastructure which includes wireless broadband connectivity among targeted schools and provide training to teachers on the use of tablets and the Internet in facilitating teaching and learning. The mobile science lab forms part of the Technology for Rural Education Development initiative (Tech4Red*), led by the DST. Tech4RED is aimed at contributing to the improvement of rural education through technology-led innovation. It comprises several sub-projects, including a science centre that will be built by the CSIR in the town of Cofimvaba. The science centre will be open to schools and members of the general public. Once the planned science centre is fully operational, the mobile science lab will become part of the science centre programmes. * The Technology for Rural Education Development (TECH4RED) project is a collaborative effort between the departments of Science and Technology, Basic Education, Rural Development and Land Reform and the Provincial Department of Education. |
