The official handover of a mobile laboratory to the Mondi Science Centre

Address by the Deputy Minister, Derek Hanekom, at the official handover of a mobile laboratory to the Mondi Science Centre, Piet Retief, Mpumalanga

31 May 2010

Programme director
Honourable Speaker of Mkhondo municipality, Mrs PC Langa
Deputy Director-General of Mpumalanga Education Department, Ms Moyane
Executive Director of the South African Agency for Technology and Science Advancement (SAASTA), Ms Beverley Damonse
Government officials
Representatives of sponsors
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I am happy to be here today, supporting an initiative like the Mondi Science Centre, because I believe that the development of our country's young people is vital. Fourteen to 35 year olds make up our largest population group and, as the national youth policy says, if South Africa does not focus on youth development, all its other development and growth efforts are undermined.

The problem of unemployment in this group requires both short-term and long-term strategies, short-term strategies to help young people who are already trapped in the problem and long-term strategies to try and prevent the problem becoming a permanent feature of our society.

I must point out that the relevance and effectiveness of such strategies is dependent on in-depth knowledge of the problem and it is therefore a good thing that the government and non-governmental organisations are working together in this area.

The initiative that we are launching today contributes to the Department of Science and Technology's long-term strategy to encourage the participation of young people in science, engineering and technology careers, of utmost importance in our move to develop the high level skills needed transform the country's resource based economy into knowledge based one.

The Department of Science and Technology's integrated approach, in this regard, includes encouraging young people from previously disadvantaged sections of the population to study mathematics and science at school, to excel in these subjects, to enter higher education institutions and to continue in science related fields to postgraduate level and beyond.

It is my belief that exposing learners to hands-on science experiments stimulates their interest in science and builds their confidence. However, not all our learners have access to laboratory facilities, which is why the Department of Science and Technology was pleased to support the Mondi Science Centre proposal to acquire a mobile laboratory.

We have no doubt that with proper planning and the support of the Mpumalanga Education Department, Mondi Science Centre will succeed in getting youngsters in under-resourced areas excited about science.

The mobile laboratory being handed over today is not the first of its kind in the country. Mondi Science Centre therefore has the opportunity to learn from others about best practices and what to avoid.

I am particularly pleased that, despite the fact that the development of science centres in our country is still in the initial stages, the growth of the local science centre community is gaining momentum. The launch of the Travelling Soccer exhibition at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre last Friday adds to the momentum.

In using the mobile laboratory, the Mondi Science Centre will gain insight and experience that can be shared with others in the local science centre community. The annual conference of the Southern African Association for Science and Technology Centres (SAASTEC) will provide you with a good opportunity to share such experiences with your peers.

The Department of Science and Technology regards the conference as a useful component of the local science centre capacity building programme, and is committed to supporting it over a five year period, ending in 2012/13.

I don't have a teaching background, but I have a few tips for the Mondi Science Centre anyway. The first of them is to make sure that, when you taking the mobile facility to schools, you do not disrupt their teaching programmes.

I would also suggest that you try to connect your hands-on activities at the schools with lessons so that they complement the teaching and learning of science in the classroom more effectively.

I would like to commend Mondi for its continued support for this science centre, in spite of the global recession.

The Mpumalanga MEC for Education, Mrs Reginah Mhaule, who was unfortunately unable to be here today, also deserves a big pat on the shoulder. Under her leadership, the Mpumalanga Education Department has taken full responsibility for the mobile centre.

My message to the science centre staff and management is to go out there and awaken our young people's interest in science, engineering and technology.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
31 May 2010
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za/)