What is SANRAL’s approach to education? We strongly support the recommendations in the National Development Plan to prioritise education, training and innovation. Without investments in these fields, the country will not be able to close the skills gap, create jobs or accelerate economic growth.
How does investing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education contribute to SANRAL’s objectives? It is in our interest to support the emergence of the next generation of engineers, scientists, artisans and technicians who will plan and manage South Africa’s future road infrastructure. We are creating a pipeline of talent that will eventually benefit the entire country.
What are your main focus areas?
We focus strongly on the training of teachers,
especially from rural and underprivileged
communities. A good example of this is our
partnership with the University of the Free State.
Here we are involved in the Family Maths and
Family Science initiatives, which offer enrichment
classes for student teachers.
SANRAL also supports the university’s ICT
Laboratory for Science, which gives learners handson
experience at the Bloemfontein and QwaQwa
campuses. It also offers opportunities for student
teachers to extend their practical skills.
What makes your approach unique? We involve parents and empower them with sufficient knowledge to support their children. This leads to a strong relationship among teachers, learners and parents that supports and contributes to better learning.
How does SANRAL support learners and students who want to study further in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths? We offer scholarships to high school learners and we support them through mentorship and help with exam preparations. In the 2016/17 financial year, SANRAL awarded 133 bursaries to students in the fields of civil engineering, construction and the built environment. A number of these students are also offered internships at the agency and at contractors who work on SANRAL construction projects.
THE Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Action Pipeline Programme (STEM PP) offered by Nelson Mandela University (NMU), in partnership with SANRAL, has improved the academic lives of more than 2 200 high school learners and teachers in the Eastern Cape since its inception in 2010. STEM PP consists of several educational programmes, all focused on increasing competence in STEM subjects – in both learners and teachers.
Learners from various high schools in Nelson Mandela Bay participate in the Getting Ahead in Technology and Engineering (Gate) programme and the Selected Learner Programme presented by STEM PP. The classes are held at the university’s Missionvale Campus in Port Elizabeth, as it is easily accessible to all communities.
STEM PP manager Isabel van Gend said: “The aim of the courses is to enhance the learners’ understanding of and promote positive attitudes towards science and mathematics. Participants receive valuable extra tuition in career-related fields and are equipped with the necessary skills to operate in a higher education or science-related work environment.”
Nadia Petrus, a Grade 11 learner at Bertram High School in Bloemendal, participates in the Selected Learner and Gate programmes, which has helped improve her maths and science marks immensely. “The study guidelines helped me focus on my work and where to improve most of my marks,” she said. Another Grade 11 participant, Michaela Aliva, from St James (RC) Senior Secondary School in Schauderville, said she too was struggling with her physical science marks. “Now they’ve improved and I understand the work much better.”
The Educator Toolbox programme has also yielded great results for learners and their instructors.
Uitenhage High School teacher Lee-Ann van Heerden said that physical and life sciences teachers from her school have attended various career exploration sessions, as well as workshops on teaching and learning strategies for Grade 10-12 physical and life sciences. “Our learners now have a better understanding of theory,” she said.
As part of Gate, NMU also facilitates a 10-hour study method course, which includes summary and memory techniques, at the start of the year. Physical science and its mathematical concepts are the focus of this course.
The Selected Learner Programme, which was introduced at 19 schools in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2016, is for learners who achieve at least 70% for maths and science in Grade 9. The focus of this programme is on experimental skills and understanding, as well as a career exploration in the fields of maths and science.
The primary objective of STEM PP is to grow the number of Grade 12 learners achieving good enough marks to continue with tertiary training in engineering and science. SANRAL supports the programme through funding. The agency also funds and manages a number of educational projects outside of STEM PP, including the awarding of bursaries and scholarships.
