Science centre opens in Limpopo
5 October 2005
Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena has officially opened a science centre in Limpopo to bolster learner interest in science subjects.
The Vuwani Science Centre, situated 25km south of Thohoyandou, is part of the Zenex/Vuwani Science Resources Centre, and will showcase science projects and initiatives by the University of Venda.
Science centres provide platforms for promoting science literacy among communities, and for communicating scientific information to the public in a user-friendly format - taking science can out of laboratories and into the public arena.
The government has contributed to the upgrading of three such centres, including the Vuwani centre, the UniZul Science Centre attached to the University of Zululand, and the Potchefstroom Science Centre attached to North-West University.
"We have selected those centres that are attached to higher education institutions as they undertake the necessary research
to produce new knowledge and technology," Mangena said.
He said the centres were intended to fill the gap created by the scarcity of well-equipped laboratories at schools and the inability of some teachers to use laboratory apparatus where such facilities existed.
"We aim to increase the number of learners participating and succeeding in mathematics, science, technology and engineering," Mangena said. "Science centres are an ideal vehicle for achieving this as learners can interact in a fun and exciting manner.
"Young people need to know early about different career paths to make informed choices, and they must be made to understand that the mastery of maths and science is a key to many rewarding careers."
Source: BuaNews
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