LEARNERS from rural schools in the Vhembe region were urged to develop an interest in the fields of mathematics and science to increase a shortage of skills in these fields in the country.
This call was made by members of the Telkom Foundation when they handed over My Lab Kits mobile laboratories to 30 rural schools in the Vhembe district during a ceremony which was held at the University of Venda last Wednesday.
“With mathematics and science, doors of learning open up, with lucrative and rewarding jobs rooted in science and mathematics. Astronomy, food science, geography and sound engineering all require a qualification in science,” said the project manager of the Telkom Foundation, Judy Poo.
Poo said a career in mathematics and science allowed South Africa to compete with the best in the world.
“The process of developing a workforce starts in schools and that is why educating South African children is important,” she said.
She applauded the joint venture between the Telkom Foundation and the University of Venda to help identify rural schools in the Vhembe district whose learners needed to be encouraged to do mathematics and science.
“Students study with our bursaries, learners discover the power of the Internet with our equipment and our network, while teachers sharpen their skills by participating in our programmes. My Lab Kits put the necessary apparatus at the disposal of teachers and allows them to do the practical work in mathematics and science.”
One of the teachers who received the kits, Albert Mabasa from Shingwedzi Secondary School in Malamulele said learners needed the best equipment to be able to produce the best results, and the donation of mobile laboratories would help the learners in this regard.
Mabasa said with the mobile laboratories, he hoped rural schools would improve their matric results.
