Fatshimetrie looks at the recent construction of the Science Teaching and Learning Center at the Delft Technical High School. The initiative for this project came largely from the WCED School of Choice Project, which contributed significantly to the financing of this construction.
For more than a decade, members of the nonprofit Advancing Knowledge have worked to build Science Teaching and Learning Centers (Science TLCs), commonly called science labs, in schools across the country. Western Cape and Eastern Cape. In collaboration with the Garden Cities Archway Foundation and the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED), over 103 Science TLCs have been delivered in the Western Cape alone.
It was on Tuesday April 30, 2024 that Science TLC number 104 was delivered to the Delft Technical High School. Located in the township of Delft, this high school stands out for its excellent baccalaureate results, with a success rate of more than 90% in science and mathematics. Despite the socio-economic and security challenges facing the neighborhood, the school maintains high academic standards. It is therefore with great pride that the new Science Teaching and Learning Center was inaugurated, with significant financial support from the WCED School of Choice Project. Alan Meyer, WCED representative, pledged continued financial support to the Delft Technical High School to ensure the establishment’s continued academic excellence.
The school’s principal, Ivor Rudolf, emphasized: “It is thanks to the hard work of our teaching team in science and mathematics, as well as the commitment of those responsible for these subjects, that the results of school have improved steadily over the years. Science TLC is an example of the rewards that come from such diligence.”
Astrid Prins, Deputy Director and Head of Science, expressed her eagerness to use the new facilities: “If we were able to achieve great results without a science laboratory, imagine what we can achieve with this equipment.”
Professor Shaheed Hartley announced that the school’s science teaching team will benefit from support from his organisation. Teachers will participate in Inquiry-Based Science Education training in May 2024, offered by Advancing Knowledge NPC. He challenged the school’s scientific team not only to increase the success rate, but also to improve the quality of the diplomas obtained. Teachers have already started training in the use of the new Science TLC technological tools.
John Matthews, CEO of Garden Cities, highlighted the importance of partnerships between different organizations that enabled the delivery of 104 Science TLCs in the Western Cape. Each organization ensures that only the best equipment is provided to students.
Fatshimetrie also took into consideration the science equipment and facilities at Silikamva High School. This relatively new school, located in an informal area of Hout Bay in Cape Town, lacked the essential facilities to teach natural, physical and life sciences. Thanks to the Garden Cities Archway Foundation and Advancing Knowledge NPC, a storage facility was built, a fume hood was installed, and a list of equipment, devices, and chemicals needed for science classes was compiled. provided to teachers. The school’s natural science teachers will also participate in Inquiry-Based Science Education training sessions offered by Advancing Knowledge NPC in May 2024.
These initiatives demonstrate not only the commitment to academic excellence, but also the desire to provide quality facilities and equipment to support science learning. For more information, visit the Fatshimetrie website at: http://www.skatt.co.za/.