MTN is confident that its efforts to stimulate interest in maths and science among school pupils in South Africa would help turn the tide
We believe the ScienCentre (in Cape Town) will inspire more young people to go into the technological field in the future,” said MTN Group Executive Sales and Marketing, Rob Reynolds.
He said the MTN ScienCentre has a number of programmes aimed at giving greater access to its benefits. There will be sponsored visits for schools from disadvantaged communities; and a wide variety of outreach programmes, including travelling exhibitions, will go deep into rural areas across South Africa. The centre has more than 200 displays.
Crafty cranes: A visitor enjoys the Murray and Roberts Building Africa display He said MTN was delighted to be closely involved in a project as important as the MTN ScienCentre. “MTN is a leader in cellular technology in Africa, and so it is fitting that we should sponsor the ScienCentre, which is aimed at promoting technology,” he said.
The centre, which is interactive and geared towards promoting an understanding and awareness of maths and science, is crucial to helping deal with the maths and science crisis in the country.
Director-General of Education Thami Mseleku said the government was unable to solve this crisis on its own, but would need the help of the private sector. “Interactive science centres, such as the MTN ScienCentre, can go a long way to overcoming the crisis,” said Mseleku. “It should be used as a model for other organisation of the way in which the public and private sectors can work together to solve a national crisis,” he added.
Mseleku said the Department of Education would encourage teachers to make full use of this excellent facility so that it can achieve its aim of becoming an educational platform for teachers to use. “I believe that in time, a visit to a science centre should become a compulsory part of the school curriculum,” he said. “The interactive displays in a science centre contribute directly to outcomes-based education, and undoubtedly develop literacy, numeracy and other skills. I also believe that a science centre such as this one could make a significant contribution to correcting past educational imbalances in South Africa by allowing young people from historically disadvantaged communities to use advanced scientific equipment,” said Mseleku.
Mseleku welcomed reports that MTN and the other sponsors intended to establish a network of science centres around the country. He said this should be encouraged, because there were many provinces in South Africa that were crying out for facilities for science and technology.
The MTN ScienCentre is open every day. The opening times are: Monday to Thursday, 09h30 to 18h00, Friday and Saturday, 09h30 to 20h00, and Sundays, 10h00 to 18h00. Entry costs R28 for adults, R18 for those between 3 and 18, and R22 for Senior Citizens and Students. Family packages and special rates for groups of 10 or more are also available.
– The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, January, 2001.