Minister Pandor launches STEMI Olympiads and Competitions Community of Practice
“Our children have the potential to be counted among the best in the world. All they need is structured support from those who have a passion for Olympiads and competitions,” said Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor.
The Minister was addressing the inaugural science Olympiad conference organised by the South African Agency for Science and Technological Advancement (SAASTA) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on 14 and 15 March 2016.
Minister Pandor applauded SAASTA and other delegates for their enthusiasm for science engagement and holding the inaugural science Olympiad conference. The Minister said that South Africa had made a disproportionate contribution to the technological innovation worldwide considering the country’s relatively small economy, but that more scientists needed to be trained.
Olympiads and competitions have been identified as a way to attract learner participation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI).
An initiative of the DST and SAASTA, Olympiads and competitions are being established to provide learners with a platform to broaden their knowledge and unleash their potential in STEMI.
It is envisaged that this initiative will increase the number of schools participating in such activities; current figures show that a fraction of schools countrywide participate, which is cause for concern, considering that there are 6 000 high schools and 20 000 primary schools in the country. For example, only 82 164 learners from 1 039 schools participated in the South African Mathematics Olympiad last year, and only 9 500 primary school learners from 378 schools participated in the South African Mathematics Challenge.
A community of practice was launched at the conference. This will allow for the creation of a platform for sharing of knowledge and best practices to enhance STEMI Olympiads and competitions in South Africa. The community of practice will also tackle challenges and find ways to improve STEMI Olympiads and competitions in the country.
In addition, an association of organisers of STEMI Olympiads and competitions, ASTEMI, was also launched. ASTEMI will work with the DST and SAASTA to facilitate the development and adoption of indicators that will enable the impact of STEMI Olympiads and competitions to be tracked.
Broadening access to STEMI participation in STEMI Olympiads and competitions remains a big challenge. Learner participation is still not impressive, particularly in respect of black learners and those from disadvantaged schools.
STEMI Olympiads and competitions have undoubtedly helped learners unleash their potential. Testimonies from accomplished scientists, like Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala of the University of Johannesburg, Mr Shadrack Mkansi of SAASTA, and Ms Palesa Masuku, a pharmacy student at the University of Limpopo, speak volumes about how Olympiads can shape young people’s minds.
Dr Jabu Nukeri, Managing Director of NRF/SAASTA, said that he strongly believed that South Africa had the potential to become a rich source of human scientific, technological and other critical expertise, but this would only be achieved if the system was fed with a healthy supply of learners and students with passion for education, especially in the critical STEMI areas.
“In recent years, South Africa has given the world history, a unique legacy. This is the legacy of the abolition of apartheid; transition to a world-class democracy. I think it is time for South Africa to give its citizens (especially its youth), Africa and the world, a unique legacy in education, especially in the critical areas of mathematics, science, engineering, technology and innovation.”
