The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will increase the number of science centres across SA to encourage the uptake of science and technology careers.
DST minister Naledi Pandor says while last year's final grade 12 results show an overall improvement in mathematics performance, there was little overall improvement in physical science.
“Our public school infrastructure in terms of libraries and laboratories requires considerable attention.”
She adds that higher education institutions in SA have varying performance-based entry requirements for different programmes, but good performances in mathematics is required for most science programmes.
“Consequently, we are actively promoting programmes that encourage young people to follow careers in science and technology.”
The DST says science centres have a critically important role to play in the development of human capital, and in strengthening science and technology culture.
“We have the policies in place, through our Youth into Science programme, to establish science centres throughout South Africa,” says the minister.
“We have already achieved some success in that 26 science centres have been established in eight provinces, and more are planned.”
Continental shift
Pandor says there should be a science centre network established across Africa.
“The methods used by interactive science centres exactly match Africa's developmental needs: they offer cost-effective ways of strengthening our science and technology culture, and their relatively language-free exhibits, and hands-on, experiential teaching methods, are ideally suited to multicultural, multilingual societies with educational imbalances, such as we have in Africa.”
She also says science centres are capable of developing effective outreach programmes that extend into the deepest peri-urban and rural communities.
The DST has signed a co-operation agreement with the national Department of Education that demarcates the separate and joint responsibilities of the departments in promoting non-formal, as well as formal, education in science and technology in all the provinces.
“We also value the role that science centres play in teacher empowerment and in training mathematics, science and technology teachers on the best ways to bring their subjects to life in the classroom. Science centres can also play a major role in encouraging the youth to follow careers in science and technology,” says the minister.
“There is no doubt that a network of science centres would unleash the potential of millions of young African people, and promote science awareness on a continent that is rapidly embracing the digital age.”
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