PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay's Murray High School became one of 40 schools in the Western Cape with a state-of-the-art science learning centre (SLC) on Tuesday January 31 that experts believe would aid in improving the quality of science knowledge once learners embark on tertiary education.
The school was one of four Garden Route schools that took receipt of similar centres on the day, as part of an initiative of the University of the Western Cape Science Learning Centre for Africa (UWC-SLCA).
Among the other schools in the region were Percy Mdala High School in Knysna, Tyholora Primary School in George and Garden Route Primary School in Mossel Bay.
For the project, UWC-SLCA teamed up with corporate organisations to improve the infrastructure in which science and mathematics are taught at schools.
“The goal is to create facilities where teachers can teach better and learners can explore science and have access to the necessary equipment to understand the subject better, improve their results and ultimately not only make a difference in the region but also in South Africa,” SLCA director Professor Shaheed Hartley said at the opening.
In 2011, UWC-SLCA, in partnership with Garden Cities Archway Foundation, started the construction of these science laboratories in Western Cape schools. Last year the provincial education department joined the partnership and started contributing a third of the costs associated with the SLCs.
Hartley said that people are often fixated on comparing results of different schools, but that many factors influence these. “You cannot accurately compare a school like St Andrews where all the opportunities are available to a no-fees school like Murray High School,” Hartley said.
He said it is the job of UWC-SLCA to create an environment where learners could flourish and which could be compared equally to other institutions. “When this has been done, yes, then we can go back and compare the results.”
He added that in many schools learners would write exams about the theory of experiments without ever experiencing it in the classroom. “That is a major disadvantage.”
Addressing the teachers and learners, he said, “We have now built you the space; now it is up to you to produce the results.”
Hartley said one of the reasons the UWC is involved with the project is because they do not want to “sit back and wait” for learners to make their way to the university and then complain about the students' substandard quality of knowledge. “We want to make a difference before these youngsters end up at university.”
Among the guests who celebrated this occasion was chief executive of the Garden Cities Archway Foundation, John Matthews, who described what an honour it is to be a partner in the project. “Our job is to unlock the dreams of the next generation, but it is up to you to realise your dreams yourself. We have done our job, now you need to do yours,” Matthews told the school.
Murray High School learner Buhle Madolo (17) thanked the various role players for giving her and her classmates the opportunity to receive a higher quality education.
At the Percy Mdala handover, principal Nicolas Njozela said, “Today marks a very important day for us as a school, it is such an honour to be given a state of the art science laboratory, never in our wildest dreams could we have seen this one coming and we will preserve it.”Knysna Ward 7 councillor Mandla Matiwane was also present at the momentous occasion.
A proud product of the high school, he said, “The school has always been a beacon of hope. I feel like we’re living Nelson Mandela’s dream, having a laboratory centre in one of our schools, all through Njozela’s leadership. I am willing to assist the school however way I can going forward.”
A Grade 12 learner, Lwando Hoyi, made a very simple speech on behalf of all the learners, and said: “I thank all involved in bringing this project to life. You’ve shown us love, the kind of love that makes us want to honour education. I thank you.”
Another matric learner, Sinathi Guzana, said, “For me this amazing lab makes me feel confident that I and the rest of my peers can attain the best results in science.”
Knysna
At the Percy Mdala handover in Knysna, principal Nicolas Njozela said, “Today marks a very important day for us as a school. It is such an honour to be given a state of the art science laboratory – never in our wildest dreams could we have seen this one coming and we will preserve it.”
Knysna Ward 7 councillor Mandla Matiwane was also present at the momentous occasion. A proud product of the high school, he said, “The school has always been a beacon of hope. I feel like we’re living Nelson Mandela’s dream, having a laboratory centre in one of our schools, all through Njozela’s leadership. I am willing to assist the school however way I can going forward.”
A Grade 12 learner, Lwando Hoyi, made a very simple speech on behalf of all the learners and said: “I thank all involved in bringing this project to life. You’ve shown us love, the kind of love that makes us want to honour education. I thank you.”
Another matric learner, Sinathi Guzana, said, “For me this amazing lab makes me feel confident that I and the rest of my peers can attain the best results in science.” – Nwabisa Pondoyi
Grade 12 learners Lwando Hoyi (left) and Sinathi Guzana at the school's new science learning centre. Photo: Nwabisa Pondoyi
Front from left: John Matthews (Garden Cities Archway Foundation CEO), UWC-SCLA director Professor Shaheed Hartley, Rosemary Murphy and headmaster Edgar Gelembe at Murray High School, Kwanokuthula. Photo: Ewald Stander
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