Company Announcement - Chevron South Africa, which retails under the Caltex brand, today celebrated the opening of a science learning centre at Bosmansdam High School in Bothasig, Cape Town. The company donated over half a million rand towards the development of the centre to enhance maths and science education at the school. “This year Government emphasised investment into improving maths, science and technology education as a priority. Chevron South Africa invests considerably to advance education outcomes in disadvantaged communities as part of a strategy that aligns with both the needs of the communities and the priorities of Government,” says Donna Fata, Manager for Policy, Government and Public Affairs at Chevron South Africa.
Speaking at the opening of the learning centre Debbie Schäfer, Western Cape MEC for Education, said the future growth of the economy is hugely dependent on education outcomes that harness the development of scarce skills. “Eleven of the top 20 scarcest skills identified in the National Scarce Skills List are engineering-related. In order to improve the availability of these skills we need to attract new talent; how best to do so than to invest in maths and science resources, providing an exciting learning environment for high school learners.”
Prior to the construction of this centre, most of the 820 learners currently enrolled at the Bosmansdam High School for Grades 8 to 12 conducted science experiments in an ordinary classroom. “If we are to nurture future engineers we need adequate facilities for doing so. This centre will go a long way in achieving this by elevating the teaching of maths and science,” says Danie Human, Headmaster at the school.
Chevron’s investment funded the construction and resourcing of the centre to specifications of a proven design by the University of the Western Cape’s Science Learning Centre for Africa. The SLCA, which is part of the UWC’s Faculty of Education, designs and constructs facilities that are aligned to the Department of Education’s curriculum. They also support teachers and learners in mathematics, science and technology education.