Mobile Science Laboratory

 Big Idea

To provide a Mobile Science Laboratory for use in High Schools in the historically deprived communities in 3 of the Provinces in South Africa, staffed by a qualified science teacher. The idea being to improve educational attainment in Science and Mathematics. 

The Need

Though many new schools have been built since the first democratic elections, there is an acute shortage of laboratories and equipment in High Schools in the historically deprived communities. Further, under apartheid, science and mathematics learning was discouraged in these communities meaning many of the educators as well as learners have no experience of using equipment and have been taught by rote. The current Mobile Laboratory, funded by Community H.E.A.R.T., has been in use since 1998 and is now too old to be cost effective.

Solution

To provide a new Mobile Science Laboratory staffed by a qualified science teacher which will visit participating High Schools several times during each year. This will provide hands-on science and mathematics education through demonstrating experiments relevant to the school syllabus. This to be provided to both educators and learners.

 Aim

To provide a fully equipped Mobile Science Laboratory and enhance biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics education in High Schools.

Activities

To purchase and convert a vehicle to be used as a Mobile Laboratory in delivering enhanced science and mathematics education.

To visit 15 to 20 schools several times a year to provide educators and learners with hands-on experience in using laboratory equipment and lessons.

Impact

The impact in the medium to long term is raising the levels of educational attainment in science and mathematics of students in the historically deprived communities and increase the success of students gaining access to university.

 Success will be an increase in the numbers of pupils attaining science qualifications from the participating schools and entry to university.

 

Success is dependant on support of educators in participating schools. Community H.E.A.R.T. worked with MEDUNSA ( Medical University of South Africa), now part of the University of Limpopo, to ensure the initial project was working. It quickly became apparent that educators were reluctant to use the facility because of lack of knwledge and experience, the project was then enhanced to provide training for the educators. This has empowered educators who are now enthusiastic about participation.

Reporting progress will be through the Community H.E.A.R.T. biannual newsletter and the website.

Background

Location – schools in the historically deprived communities Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces of South Africa. The majority of the population is still living under the legacy of deprivation of the apartheid era. Under apartheid science education in these areas was discouraged and in some cases outlawed (eg students from these areas were not permitted to study engineering). Any science taught was by rote so many of the educators have little experience of science experiments.

Beneficiaries will be the students and educators from the historically deprived communities in participating schools in South Africa. This will mean more than 7,000 students yearly will have access to enhanced science and mathematics education. South Africa as a whole will also benefit as the bridge is gapped to ensure students from the historically deprived communities successfully participate in science and engineering in the future.

Why Us

Community H.E.A.R.T. funded the first Mobile Science Laboratory in 1998 and were involved in the initial evolution of the project which led to the inclusion of educators in the project. We also have built up a working relationship with the University of Limpopo Trust, formerly the MEDUNSA Trust, which has been involved with the project since it’s inception.

The Project is run by the Department of Science and Agriculture of the University of Limpopo and staffed by a fully qualified science teacher.