Sasol
Scifest - learners urged to focus on maths and science
SciFest urges South Africa's 2007 matrics to focus on science and maths
Media reports suggest that many South African high school students are not
taking science and mathematics classes at higher grade, which would allow them
the chance to study at university – often on an all-expenses-paid bursary from
companies desperate for skilled staff - and pick from a dazzling variety of
careers.
Sadly, there are already indications from South Africa’s five inland
provinces - Northern Cape, Gauteng, NorthWest, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo - that
some short-sighted high schools are continuing to push teenagers to study
science and maths at standard grade, hoping this will minimize the failure rate.
Unfortunately, standard grade matric also severely limits their graduates’
future.
But there is hope. The director of Sasol SciFest, the country’s only
national science festival, has urged South African students to insist on
studying high-grade science and mathematics, and to make use of events such as
the annual SciFest – held every March in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape for
eleven years – for science inspiration, career guidance and the kind of
hands-on learning at workshops that they may not always obtain at school.
“The programmes offered at the science festival are meant to show learners
that science can be fun and to encourage them to think beyond the classroom,”
said SciFest director and founder Brian Wilmot. “The exposure of our youth to
‘real-life’ scientists and role models is what SciFest is all about. “
Booking for SciFest 2007 opened on 1 February. Wilmot
urged schools in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana to send teachers
and students to this year’s SciFest, which starts on the 21 March - a public
holiday in South Africa.
He made a special request that schools from South Africa's five inland
provinces, where the first term break coincides with the week-long festival this
year, to consider sending teachers and students to SciFest for the holiday.
Teachers, who attend all events with their learners at no cost, report that
the workshops have often dramatically improved their ability to communicate the
wonders of science, and their matric pass rates have often soared.
“Where else will teachers be able to introduce their learners to a real
NASA astronaut?” Wilmot asked. “Or an explorer who helped discover a “lost
world” with never-before-seen animals and plants?”
“Youngsters go to school to be educated and at SciFest they can see what
they can do with that education,” Wilmot said.
There are more than 680 events to choose ranging from lectures, workshops,
talkshops, school quizzes, interactive demonstrations, science shows, laser
shows and many more items.
“The programme for SciFest 2007 is chock-a-block with guests coming from
all over the world to wow audiences” says SciFest Manager, Anja Fourie.
The programme can be viewed at www.scifest.org.za
or ordered by phoning 046
603 1106.
More information:
 Sasol
Scifest 2007
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