Sandisiwe Senior Secondary School pupils in Mdantsane were elated yesterday as they performed the first experiment in their new mobile laboratory after it was officially handed over by Standard Bank and Buffalo City Municipality.
Grade 11 pupils Anda Mkhonjwa and Lisakhanya Nazo put the new lab to the test by using zinc chloride, hydrogen gas and hydrochloric acid, a tube and a balloon for their science experiment.
Grade 12 pupil Athenkosi Mkonqo said he was also lucky be one of the students who would use the mobile laboratory.
“They could have chosen any other school to donate the lab to, but luckily it was ours.
“ I am thankful for this. Our results will show how much we appreciate this.
“I’m certain now that many learners will have an interest in science, and change their attitude towards the subject.
“People have the idea that science is difficult and it is this mentality that makes them fail,” he said.
Pupil Kwakhanya Mona said: “I think this should have been done a long time ago as some of us have always had an interest in science. Maybe we could have had more students doing physics.”
Mona said doing practical work would help to form their ideas of which courses to choose.
Science teacher Sabita Bashyal said: “Learners are going to get great benefit from it and there will be effective teaching and learning in science projects.
“There was always a shortage in textbooks and apparatus. We now have all we need to increase the science pass rate.”
She said the lab would be used by all learners from grades 8 to 12.
Standard Bank account executive Asanda Tyali said the bank had been supporting schools in the Eastern Cape since 2014.
She said this was the third school that they had assisted in the Mdantsane area.
“We have worked hand in hand with BCM. Our corporate social initiative programmes are linked up with the mayor’s office in order for them to assist us in identifying needy schools.”
BCM mayor, Xola Pakati said: “I wish other companies would do the same as Standard Bank.
“This year we are celebrating Nelson Mandela. We should always be reminded to spread the message of education for all.”
He said he had taken note of challenges the school was facing and wanted to close the gap of township schools which did not have access to facilities.
“We strive to ensure that our children have access to all basic necessities.”
He said this initiative would help pupils to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty through education. — zikhonam@dispatch.co.za
Pupils overjoyed as new mobile lab transforms science
Grade 11 pupils Anda Mkhonjwa and Lisakhanya Nazo put the new lab to the test by using zinc chloride, hydrogen gas and hydrochloric acid, a tube and a balloon for their science experiment.
Grade 12 pupil Athenkosi Mkonqo said he was also lucky be one of the students who would use the mobile laboratory.
“They could have chosen any other school to donate the lab to, but luckily it was ours.
“ I am thankful for this. Our results will show how much we appreciate this.
“I’m certain now that many learners will have an interest in science, and change their attitude towards the subject.
“People have the idea that science is difficult and it is this mentality that makes them fail,” he said.
Pupil Kwakhanya Mona said: “I think this should have been done a long time ago as some of us have always had an interest in science. Maybe we could have had more students doing physics.”
Mona said doing practical work would help to form their ideas of which courses to choose.
Science teacher Sabita Bashyal said: “Learners are going to get great benefit from it and there will be effective teaching and learning in science projects.
“There was always a shortage in textbooks and apparatus. We now have all we need to increase the science pass rate.”
She said the lab would be used by all learners from grades 8 to 12.
Standard Bank account executive Asanda Tyali said the bank had been supporting schools in the Eastern Cape since 2014.
She said this was the third school that they had assisted in the Mdantsane area.
“We have worked hand in hand with BCM. Our corporate social initiative programmes are linked up with the mayor’s office in order for them to assist us in identifying needy schools.”
BCM mayor, Xola Pakati said: “I wish other companies would do the same as Standard Bank.
“This year we are celebrating Nelson Mandela. We should always be reminded to spread the message of education for all.”
He said he had taken note of challenges the school was facing and wanted to close the gap of township schools which did not have access to facilities.
“We strive to ensure that our children have access to all basic necessities.”
He said this initiative would help pupils to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty through education. — zikhonam@dispatch.co.za
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