Pretoria – Gauteng MEC for Education Barbara Creecy opened a new building at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg to accommodate the growing collection of interactive maths, science and technology exhibits.
The building will expand the centre’s facilities that are available as well as the range of science related events, activities and programmes on offer for both the school community and general public.
Creecy said Gauteng had focussed intensively on maths, science and technology education for the last four years and had dedicated an enormous amount of resources and attention to these subjects, at both primary and secondary school levels.
Sci-Bono has played a crucial role in implementation of the Gauteng Primary Language and Mathematics Strategy (GPLMS) which strives to improve what happens every day in class in 837 priority primary schools.
The centre is also the main driver of the Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP) offers over 67 000 Grade 12 learners additional tuition in maths, science and other subjects.
“SSIP goes beyond conventional teaching and it means that these learners in 385 priority schools get extra teaching, resources and support, more than any other learner in the country. Both of these programmes are proving to be successful and are helping to achieve our maths and science goals.”
One of the main values of Sci-Bono is that while it is a part of the Gauteng Department of Education, it is also a space outside of the department and therefore not bound by all the constraints that sometimes bind the public sector.
Creecy said Sci-Bono, as a science centre, is a space where innovation is not just possible, but preferred.
Since its opening almost 10 years ago, the centre has been a project which has provided an opportunity for the department to work with a range of partners which amongst others include Dell, SAP, Microsoft and Cisco, Sasol, Dow and the Royal Society of Chemistry. – SAnews.gov.za
