Brainiac prep rooms

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Four schools in die Garden Route are now fully geared to produce the scientists of the future with the addition of spanking new state-of-the-art Science Learning Centres.

The University of the Western Cape, Garden Cities-Archway Foundation and the Science Learning Centre for Africa joined hands in the opening of University of the Western Cape (UWC) Science Learning Centres (science laboratories) on Tuesday 11 February at The Crags Primary School in Plett and Concordia High School in Knysna.

A day later, two more labs were launched at Knysna Secondary and Groot Brak Primary schools. This makes it 83 science labs to be opened in the Western Cape, at an average cost of R1-million per lab.

"That million rand is divided into three components: it's the actual infrastructure that you see inside the lab; equipment that is provided inside; and the training and development for the teachers to be able to teach the children to use the facilities," said John Matthews of Garden Cities-Archway Foundation.

According to UWC spokesperson Harriet Box "four new state-of-the-art science centres will help learners and teachers in the Knysna region get a practical feel for the joys of science".

"When it comes to science, kids learn best when they can get their hands dirty," Box added.

Concordia High School principal Zamubuntu Blaai said their learners will now no longer have to go to Percy Mdala or Knysna High schools for science projects and practicals. "So I must say I'm very excited for the benefit of our learners in this poor community, they can make a change in their lives and the community… It won't be a white elephant, they are going to use it and we'll monitor it."

John Matthews of the Archway Foundation said it is part of their social-corporate drive to invest in projects such as these. "As a property developer we generate income from our houses that we sell and then we use the funds to invest in projects like the science labs and also the school halls. Percy Mdala was one of the recipients of a school hall as well as Knysna Secondary School."

Says acting director at the UWC-SLCA (Science Learning Centre for Africa), professor Monde Mbekwa: "While South Africa is faced with many challenges, one of our main hopes of finding ways to overcome them is through science. For that, we need more – and better-equipped – scientists as well as a culture of science in our schools that helps develop and inspire those scientists-to-be…

"Until recently, school science learners were compelled to memorise scientific facts rather than experiment with substances which they can touch, feel and measure," Mbekwa noted.

Prof Vuyokazi Nomlomo, UWC dean of the Faculty of Education added, "Scientific literacy involves cognitive processes that are stimulated by participating in various activities or tasks such as observations, measurements, conducting investigations, and many others. The science learning centres will provide a conducive space to carry out these cognitive processes – and facilitate meaningful learning and acquisition of scientific literacy."

UWC Science learning centre.