The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation has officially launched the inaugural National Science Month (NSM), to strengthen public engagement with Science, Technology and Innovation under the theme: “Science, Technology and Innovation are for Everyone”.
The initiative expands the former National Science Week (NSW) into a month-long programme for July, aimed at bringing science closer to all South Africans. The transition from NSW, which has been implemented since 2000, reflects the increasingly important role of Science, Technology, and Innovation in addressing complex national and global challenges as a catalyst for economic transformation, industrialisation, and national competitiveness.
National Science Month is more than a celebration of science; it is a national movement to bring science closer to society and a call to: Get involved. Lead an activity and Inspire others. The programme will cover themes such as technology and innovation; health; environmental management; education; human rights; climate change; space science; science diplomacy; and youth engagement. These activities will demonstrate the value and impact of science in society whilst significantly scaling up the promotion of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation (STEMI) amongst learners and students.
The DBE continues to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders to promote Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Information Technology, and Coding and Robotics in South Africa, ensuring that every learner, regardless of geography or background, has the opportunity to study and excel in these critical subjects, especially rural and township schools, where access to specialised subjects has historically been limited. The improvement of Mathematics access and performance remains a central part of the DBE’s broader priority to enhance literacy and numeracy in the Foundation Phase and learner participation and performance in gateway subjects, ensuring that all learners have opportunities to acquire the foundational skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s social and economic development. If learners cannot read for meaning and perform basic mathematical operations by Grade 4, their ability to succeed in these specialised subjects will be severely compromised. Strengthening foundational skills therefore remains the DBE’s top priority, ensuring that every learner can fully benefit from the broader curriculum opportunities provided in the senior grades.
South Africans are encouraged to register their NSM 2026 event on the central monitoring and evaluation platform, Science Engagement Information Management System (SEIMS). Once registered, the coordinators from the National Research Foundation (NRF) – South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) team will be able to see which provinces are not being exposed to science discovery, discussions, or debates for all communities to be included.
Register your planned events here: SEIMS