The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is investing R30 million in the construction of a "state-of-the-art" science centre in the rural Chris Hani District Municipality in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape.
According to the DST, it is piloting the use of various technologies to improve education in a rural setting and establishing the science centre forms part of that initiative.
Department spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele says: "The development of a science centre in Cofimvaba is part of the DST-led Technology for Rural Education Development (TECH4RED) initiative.
"The initiative seeks to establish whether the introduction of innovative technologies that have been tested in other contexts will improve the quality of teaching and learning in the Cofimvaba school district in the Eastern Cape."
Education analyst and visiting adjunct professor at the University of the Witwatersrand's Public and Development Management School, Graeme Bloch, says the department's centre encourages maths and science where teaching is problematic.
"I think it is great and should encourage kids near the centre. It needs to aim at young people and should be interactive to get their attention," he states.
Space for learning
Work on developing the science centre began in 2014 with the launch of a mobile science lab first. According to Ngqengelele, the mobile lab is still helping schools in the Cofimvaba district with science experiments.
With the support of other government entities such as basic education, Intsika Yethu Municipality and the Eastern Cape education department, the DST moved to set up a permanent science centre that will benefit learners and members of the community.
The DST says the construction of the building will begin on Friday, and it expects the science centre to be completed and fully operational by December.
The science centre building will comprise a science promotion space and maths, science and technology (MST) education space, according to the department spokesperson.
The science promotion space will be equipped with interactive science exhibits meant to advance the objective of the programme and develop a society that is knowledgeable about science, critically engaged and scientifically literate. The MST education space comprises three laboratories, two classrooms and a computer laboratory - the space will be used to complement learning and teaching of maths, science and technology, explains Ngqengelele.
"Learners from the 26 secondary schools in Cofimvaba district will benefit from the centre through science experiments, while teachers will benefit from in-service training to be provided by the centre.
"Further to this, the science centre will have an outreach programme that will take activities to schools," adds Ngqengelele.
While the DST will make provision for the equipment and exhibits in the centre, the Eastern Cape education department will be the custodian of the centre once it is completed, taking full responsibility of the staffing and occupancy costs.
The basic education department will also partner with Eastern Cape education to provide teacher in-service training to be hosted by the centre, says Ngqengelele.
Moira De Roche, MD of e-learning company Aligned4Learning, encouraged the DST's decision to work with other departments to ensure the success of the science centre.
Science centres are wonderful and they really bring science to kids in an interactive and meaningful way, she says.
"A well-designed science centre brings science to life. Because the exhibits are mostly interactive, true understanding and learning of the concepts happen. Even if they do not go on to study and work in science and technology, it will be a great educational experience.
"Also, in an area where there is probably not many places to take school kids for an educational outing, at least they will have somewhere fun and educational to go to," says De Roche.