Education

Science clubs taking off in SA provide learning outside the classroom

In a bid to change the South African science and maths landscape, the South African Astronomical Organisation has launched www.scienceclub.org.za where learners and educators can take the first steps to initiating and establishing science clubs at high schools. More than that it is also intends to bring scientists to adopt or help establish these clubs at schools.

South Africa generally suffers from low levels of scientific literacy, increasingly declining numbers of learners doing mathematics and science on a higher grade and hence very low numbers of learners taking up science, engineering and technology studies at tertiary education level. The existence of science centers, science museums, observatories, planetaria and aquaria serves to ignite the spark of the beauty, utility and power of science. However this is left to the individual learners, educators and parents to transform the initial excitement to a solid interest in science. Science clubs can alleviate this situation.

Sivuyile Manxoyi, one of the people engaged in spearheading this initiative believes that "science clubs can provide opportunities for learners to explore science and can enhance positive experiences that learners have with science. They can help learners develop problem-solving skills, confidence and communication skills. Science clubs can challenge gifted and talented learners while appealing and motivating the struggling learners. They can also create links between schools and industry, schools and universities and also between schools and research institutes and councils. The science, engineering and technology professional in the various above-mentioned bodies can play a crucial role in supporting the science clubs."

The organisation is still in the development stages but has thusfar been facilitating workshops for high school learners and educators on what clubs are and how they can be established and function, arranging for visits to science centres and exhibitions peppered around the country. 253 High schools across all provinces of the country are currently registered. 

More information:

Schools with already existing science clubs can register via the science club website www.scienceclub.org.za. Educators, scientists and as well as all science loving people keen to support , establish or adopt science clubs are encouraged to contact Sivuyile Manxoyi at sivuyile@saao.ac.za  

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