Reese Douse, grade 10, Ismaeel Achmat, grade 9, and Kerene Kayembe, grade 11, celebrate their new Science Teaching and Learning Centre. Picture: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers.
Cape Town - Excited faces lit up the newly constructed Science Teaching and Learning Centre at Belgravia High School in Athlone on Thursday.
The centre, aimed at enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, was opened through collaborative work between Advancing Knowledge NonProfit Company (AK NPC), Garden Cities Archway Foundation, and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
Belgravia High School was among four schools that were blessed with the state-of-the-art centre.
Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary, Luhlaza Secondary School and Blomvlei Primary School are the other three recipients of a new science lab thanks to the partnership.
Belgravia school principal, Brenda Wilson, said the centre marks a milestone for the school.
“I am excited and bursting with pride to introduce the new lab.
“This is an opportunity to unlock doors, doors that will drive innovation and exploration.
“Science is not only about equations and experiments, it’s about questions and being curious.
“I hope this space encourages learners to be curious.”
She thanked the sponsors for investing in the learners' future.
“This is an incubator for new ideas, an opportunity to ask questions, a gateway to explore things and test ourselves beyond what we can imagine.
“My hope is that we take this and use it to impact not only the school, but the rest of the world, but it starts here, we need to inspire and ignite a passion for science so we can see the fruit of our labour in the future.”
WCED district circuit manager, Anusha Naidoo, said she hopes the facility will help children see the benefits of going into science.
AK NPC director, Professor Shaheed Hartley, said the centre is about introducing critical practices in schools.
“We want to build on the skills from a foundation and intermediate phase. If we establish the basic critical skills in spaces like this our kids and learners will be in a much better space to ask questions and venture into careers in this field.
“Gone are the excuses that these things are only at privileged schools.”
CEO of Garden Cities, John Matthews, added that it was now up to learners to explore science further.
Grade 10 learner, Abdullah Arshad, said the centre makes it easier for them to learn.
“This new science lab will answer all unanswered questions and make it easier for us,” he said.
Science teacher, Edmore Mabwe, said the centre is a big deal to teachers.
“Teaching science without equipment is a big problem, we expect learners to imagine things but now they get the opportunity to do it, and not only imagine it. As much as science is theory, it is also about the practical side.”
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Related Topics: