Science and maths have been given a shot in the arm at a Primrose Park school with the opening of its new science lab last Friday.
The facility, which was built and donated by Garden Cities Archway Foundation, the Advancing Knowledge non-profit organisation and the Western Cape Education Department, comes with a projector and equipment to do science experiments.
Garden Cities Archway Foundation CEO John Matthews said the lab would help to put Primrose Park Primary School on the same level as schools in wealthier areas.
It was unfair for pupils to reach university level without having seen the inside of such a facility, he said.
Over the past 20 years, the foundation had donated more than R380 million for school halls, science labs, and bursaries, he said.
“If you don’t provide the facility, a pupil won’t be able to compete with someone who knows the tools needed,” he said.
Advancing Knowledge founder Professor Shaheed Hartley said maths and science were gateway subjects for further education.
“There are so many activities that pupils can do here. We need to start asking questions and test theories. This space allows for creativity. We’ve brought all kinds of equipment here. Those are the kinds of things that I want the science teachers to use. Measuring, comparing, fitting things, are the kinds of activities at foundation phase, and you can build on that as you go on.”
Acting principal Ruwayda Hendricks said the school was honoured to receive the lab, and the pupils were thrilled with it.
