take note
ENERGY + ENVIROFICIENCY
T
wenty years into our new democracy, one would have thought
we would have solved all the problems in our education system,
from mud schools and pit latrines to absentee educators and
non-delivery of text books. Whilst this scenario still exists, much can
be said about the improvements made in our education system with
the assistance of the private sector. This partnership is not unique to
South Africa and is a common feature in the most progressive and
technologically advanced countries. What makes it easier in these
progressive countries is that governments are vocal about making
their education systems a priority and commit to it.
In recent months, we have read news articles of South Africa’s
mathematics and science standards being at the bottom of the list of
countries surveyed. This research was done by surveying chief ex-
ecutive officers and industry leaders, who quite rightly express their
view that the average Grade 12 school leaver who does not qualify for
university entrance, cannot function in industry. Our education sys-
tem does not cater for this level of competency from a school leaver.
Seriously lacking are entrepreneurial skills and what are generally
termed, 21
st
century thinking skills. Over the past decade, Eskom has
realised that critical thinking and problem solving skills are seriously
lacking in our school system. This, Eskom surmised, would lead to
a lack of interest in the sciences, which would then lead to fewer
science graduates, post graduates, engineers and scientists. South
Africa would therefore lose its competitive edge when it was needed
to compete in the world economy. Eskom, at that point, committed
serious funding to Expo for Young Scientists, founded in 1980 and
has a proven track record.
What does Eskom Expo forYoung Scientists do?
Eskom Expo for Young Scientists (Eskom Expo) is South Africa's only
existing science fair for school learners, where they have the opportu-
nity to exhibit their own scientific investigations. It is endorsed by the
Department of Basic Education and the Department of Science and
Technology as well as the Presidency. Eskom Expo brings together
learners, educators, professional organisations, educational bodies
and governments from all over Southern Africa. By participating in
the Expo, students increase their awareness of the wonders of sci-
ence, add to their knowledge and entrepreneurial possibilities, and
broaden their scientific horizons.
The Expo functions at all levels ranging from the individual student
in the classroom to provincial education departments, and spreads
out to tertiary education institutions, commerce and industry. Eskom
Expo, by the very nature of its activities, is making a contribution to
improving the scientific, technical and research skills of young people,
and providing an excellent opportunity for educators to engage in
the type of activity promoted within the education curriculum. The
Expo provides an ideal opportunity for both educators and learners
to develop skills in scientific project work.
By participating in Eskom Expo, learners increase their aware-
ness of the world around them and the wonders of science, improve
their entrepreneurial skills, while broadening their scientific horizons.
There are 25 categories into which learners can enter projects and
can choose from the following types of project:
• Investigation
• Pure Science
• Applied Science
• Technology and Applied Technology
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Theoretical
Procedures and organisation
Eskom Expo provides a service to the South African education com-
munity, which has been supported by Eskom and other sponsors
for a number of years. Eskom Expo seeks to engage young people
in high quality scientific research. Projects, which are put forward
for exhibition, are carefully judged in terms of creativity, originality,
scientific rigour and presentation. From the 31 regional Expo’s, about
500 projects are selected for the International Science Fair (ISF) event.
Eskom Expo process involves the following:
• Communication is sent to schools early in the school year. This
includes Expo guides books, posters, entry forms, etc. Over the
Does South Africa have the
talent
to compete among the
best young
scientists in the world
?
By P Chetty, executive director, Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
We have some of the brightest learners in the world in our country - and we win when we compete with the best.
• South African youngsters can compete in science competi-
tions against the very best in the world.
• Extra-curricula learning is a powerful method of developing
competence and interest in a subject.
• Make time to assist youngsters in developing an interest
in STEM-related areas.
Electricity+Control
July ‘14
46
