The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande, addressed the topic: “The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in enabling education,” reflecting on three interrelated issues.
Firstly, science is an essential enabler for national development as no nation can achieve its development goals if it fails to invest in the development of its scientific capabilities. “I am proud to state that South Africa has one of the most advanced and largest public science systems in Africa in line with our new mantra of “Placing Science, Technology, and Innovation at the centre of government, education, industry, and society, over the next five years,” he said.
The second issue is that of the relationship between education and science. Education and science are both instruments for unlocking human potential and therefore, education and science are both complementary and mutually reinforcing. The basic education system must supply school leavers who qualify for engineering studies at TVET colleges as they are needed to build and maintain the equipment used to conduct research. For the basic education system to operate optimally, there is a need for policies and practices that are evidence-based. Available data, which we constantly compile, analyse, and interpret, and the new research knowledge that is generated through research constitute the evidence used to inform policy decisions and practices.
The third and final issue is to strengthen the partnership between the two departments through the following: National Science Week, which attracts over 4,000 learners annually to encourage them to take up careers in science, will be extended to become National Science Month. The Stem Olympiads create a platform for learners to informally experiment with scientific theories and is important for the development of such skills as problem-solving, critical, and computational thinking, communication and creativity. The SET Careers Material, which produces and distributes a well-researched STEM career publication that explains STEM careers and associated paths, can be downloaded from the STI website. As part of contributing to 4IR literacy in schools, the Centre for High Performance Computing in Cape Town has trained close to 200 educators from all nine provinces as trainers in the basics of coding. “We will be continuing with this project in the next three years in partnership with the DBE, incorporating the latest ideas and learning methodologies, along with building and sponsoring important computer laboratories, including in primary schools”.
In closing Minister Nzimande said that, ”Working together to improve stem passes in STEM disciplines in schooling, including ratcheting up the numbers of STEM passes in matric results is important, as well as working with the DHET in producing qualified and competent STEM educators, including creative pedagogy to teach STEM disciplines in schooling systems. Basic education is an absolutely important foundation in building a strong STI system in our country, and in the struggle to overcome the fear of Mathematics and Science in our schools”.