Teachers in the South retrain on better science syllabus

The Namdeb Foundation in collaboration with the Anglo American Namibia Foundation are supporting improved science education at schools in the Karas Region through their support of the !Khawagas project. The agents of the two mining giants announced their contribution to the project at a handover ceremony last weekend.
Following consultations with the Karas Region Education Directorate of the Ministry of Education, the Namdeb Foundation collaborated with the Anglo American Namibia Foundation to investigate the potential of implementing a Science Project for the Karas Region. The outcome of this investigation resulted in the formulation of the !Khawagas Project.
The combined investment value injected by the two foundations amounts to approximately N$800, 000.
Specific needs were identified at individual schools and prioritised by the ministry. The !Khawagas project now provides science kits for Grade 5 to 7 learners at 32 public schools. The science kits are accommodated in lockable trolleys of which each school will also received one.
To improve practical education, the project will supply and install a complete science laboratory for both Life and Physical science at the Schmelenville Combined School in Bethanie.
Another component of the project makes provision for practical training for all science teachers in the Karas Region who teach the subject on Grade 5 to 7 level to enhance the quality of teaching in the subject.
Approximately 5420 Grade 5, 6 and 7 learners will benefit from the !Khawagas Project. One of the key contributions is the new state of the art mobile science laboratory for Schmelenville Combined School.
The Ministry of Education is also contributing significantly to the success of the project as it has undertaken to re-train all Grade 5 to 7 science teachers on the new syllabus and usage of the science kits at the Keetmanshoop Teachers’ Resource Centre. This will enable teachers to improve their teaching skills and develop additional interest in the subject to teach the subject with renewed passion.