The Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA) has given full bursaries for undergraduate studies to five matric learners from Carnarvon High School who obtained matric exemptions in the 2015 National Senior Certificate examination.
The learners are set to continue their studies in science-related fields and were supported at high school level through bursaries from SKA SA's Human Capital Development Programme.
The Department of Basic Education announced the matric results for the class of 2015 on Tuesday last week. The department's National Diagnostic Report on Learner Performance reveals a steady decline in the performance of candidates in maths and science subjects for 2014 and 2015.
The SKA will be the world's largest radio telescope - a hundred times bigger than any current radio telescope; it will revolutionise the world's understanding of the universe.
It will be built in two phases - SKA1 and SKA2 - starting in 2018. SKA 1 will include two instruments - SKA1 MID (to be built in SA) and SKA1 LOW (to be built in Australia); they will observe the universe at different frequencies.
Over the years, SKA SA has lamented the shortage of the requisite skills, especially data scientists, required to interpret and analyse the vast amount of data that will be produced by the telescope.
Achieving dreams
Anver Adams (18), Janethon de Klerk (18), Kyle Henderson (18), Cedwill Abdol (17) and Bradley Bosman (17) all performed well in mathematics and physical science. They have applied to study in science-related fields such as BSc, BSc Computer Science, BSc Data Science, Physics and Electrical Engineering at the University of the Free State, Sol Plaatje University, the North West University, the University of the Western Cape and the University of Johannesburg.
"Our goal is to ensure sustainability for the SKA and that site engineers be drawn from the local community and in turn provide a way for local young people to achieve their dreams of greatness through science. It is the first time that learners from the school with support from SKA SA have obtained matric results with exemptions to further their studies in science-related fields," says Dr Rob Adam, project director of SKA SA.
Itumeleng Molefi, physical science educator at Carnarvon High School, says: "Some of the learners come from severely challenging backgrounds and it is only through their own perseverance and determination that they have succeeded. We worked very hard and I am happy to see they now have the chance to attend university because of their own efforts."
Bosman has applied to study for a BSc degree at the University of the Free State. "I am glad that we persevered. It was very difficult at times because we did not have a science teacher in Grade 10. From Grade 11 onwards it was much easier after Mr Molefi joined the school," he says.
Abdol says he would like to pursue his studies in Computer Science at the University of the Free State after obtaining sterling matric results. "It is a great privilege for me to have this opportunity and I am thankful for all the support that I had. I would like to improve my circumstances and will do anything to achieve my dreams."
Hard work
Henderson, the 2015 head boy at Carnarvon High School, will be a first year student in BSc (physics and mathematics) at the North West University this year. "My matric year was made easier knowing that I had the support of SKA SA for further studies."
De Klerk, the head girl at Carnarvon High School in 2015, says she is motivated to work even harder for her university degree. "What you put in is what you will gain, and I want to work much harder because I do not want to disappoint my sponsors and support team. My results could have been much better, but I have confidence that I am capable of so much more," she says.
Adams, who was a first team rugby player at the school, says he is looking forward to joining the University of the Western Cape for his BSc studies. "The matric year was a great one because I knew that I had the support of SKA SA. I knew that I had to put in all my effort and just pass and the rest will be taken care of."
Sam Rametse, professional officer: schools and outreach in the SKA SA Human Capital Development Programme, says the organisation is very proud of the learners. "We are reaping the benefits of appointing a science educator at Carnarvon High School who took the learners from Carnarvon and surrounding areas under his wing. It is due to his hard work that we see this success and we look forward to supporting the students in their further studies," says Rametse.
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