To boost their love for science, learners at Kenmere Primary School in Kensington now have access to a new state-of-the-art science laboratory valued at more than R1,2 million.
Dubbed the science teaching and learning centre (Science TLC), the lab will enhance the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.
A total of 7 newly constructed science
learning centres will be opened this week. This will bring the total number of
Science TLCs constructed in the province to 94 since 2011.
The facility is a partnership between Advancing Knowledge non-profit company (AK NPC), Garden Cities Archway Foundation and the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) and was officially opened today (Monday 24 April).
The lab boasts six workstations, with each station able to accommodate eight learners.
Each station has the chemicals and the apparatus for the learners.
Teachers can also store their teaching material on the smart note board. The construction of the Science TLCs is an extension of the curriculum support of teachers and learners provided by AK NPC and serves as a reward to committed science teachers, school management and learners.
AK NPC is an outreach, support, training and research organisation for STEM Education. Richard Page, principal at the school, says he is elated the learners now have access to this facility.
“Science is one of the Stem subjects and is the most important subject in this day and age to take a learner forward. Page says this has always been his vision for the school.
“I am extremely proud of this initiative. This has always been one of my dreams. I am at the school for 30 years and I think for the past 30 years, I have been trying to get a science lab on the school grounds.”
Page says the facility will enable learners to excel when they get to high school.
“Research has shown when children leave primary school and go to high school and advance to tertiary institutions, then they are challenged because they haven’t been exposed to the practical science side of scientific inquiry.
“Most learners get to high school, then they normally do life sciences but they drop the physical science part. In this way, if you want to become a doctor or an engineer you need life sciences as well as physical science. Hopefully, this lab will instil the love of both modules in their lives,” explains Page. The WCED’s senior curriculum advisor for natural sciences at Maitland Metro-central Francois Jones says the department has been involved since 2004 when the initial project started.
“This is a huge investment for the school and it will be utilised to its full potential. I have been working with the teachers, they are committed, and they are willing to learn to do more. The principal has said that he would invite some of our officials so that they can demonstrate to the teacher so that they can be better equipped in terms of utilising the facility.”
Prof Shaheed Hartley, director of AK NPC), says: “We have to start with the basics in supporting teachers to have the confidence to teach science with an advanced level of understanding, knowledge, and skills. Similarly, we have to be creative in providing learners with opportunities that will draw their interest and willingness to learn science.”
Jannie Isaacs, the board member at Garden Cities, says: “We have set out what we wanted to do. We promised the school a learning centre and we have delivered. The facility is here, you now have to take a position, you own it, it is yours. It is in your hands.”
