{"id":218836,"date":"2022-03-09T17:36:11","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T15:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=113770"},"modified":"2022-03-09T17:36:11","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T15:36:11","slug":"thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands of Learners in Nelson Mandela Bay to Benefit from Ford-sponsored Science2Go Mobile Resource Centre"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"scaip scaip-1 \">\n<aside id=\"republication_tracker_tool-2\" class=\"republication_tracker_tool clearfix\">\n<h5 class=\"adtitle\">Republish for Free<\/h5>\n<div class=\"license\">\n<p><button name=\"Republish This Story\" id=\"cc-btn\" class=\"republication-tracker-tool-button\">Republish This Story<\/button><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"license\" rel=\"noreferrer license noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Creative Commons License\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre.png\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Creative Commons License\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre.png\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"message\">\n<p>Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/aside>\n<figure id=\"attachment_113771\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-113771\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?attachment_id=113771\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"wp-image-113771 size-thumbnail lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-113771 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre.jpg\" alt width=\"300\" height=\"200\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-113771\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Science2Go Team and students doing experiments Photo: Not required<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>* 10 000 learners and 30 teachers at 11 project high schools in Nelson Mandela Bay will benefit from new Science2Go initiative, sponsored by Ford<br \/>* Additional 5 000 learners, 300 teachers and 10 schools will form part of Science2Go rural roadshow in partnership with Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education<br \/>* Science2Go run by Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education Trust (CASME) in collaboration with founding project partner Mahle Behr South Africa<br \/>\u2022 Ford Motor Company Fund supporting the Science2Go project for three years, with a grant of R1.4-million in the first year. Specially equipped Ranger pick-up donated by Ford South Africa<\/p>\n<p>GQEBERHA, South Africa, 4 March 2022 \u2013 In an effort to bolster education and deliver practical and hands-on science learning experiences, approximately 10 000 learners and 30 teachers at 11 high schools in Nelson Mandela Bay will benefit from the launch of an exciting new Science2Go Mobile Resource Centre, funded by Ford Motor Company.<\/p>\n<p>The Science2Go project will also conduct a rural roadshow outreach in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education. The roadshow will reach an additional 5 000 learners at 10 schools, and provide training to a further 300 teachers to increase their competence and confidence in delivering practical and impactful science lessons.<\/p>\n<p>The Science2Go initiative is run by the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education Trust (CASME) in collaboration with founding project partner Mahle Behr South Africa. Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is supporting the project for a period of three years, with a grant of R1.4-million in the first year. Additionally, Ford South Africa donated a locally-built Ford Ranger pick-up that is used as the mobile science laboratory and resource centre.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScience2Go is an initiative by CASME and Mahle Behr to bridge the gaps in science teaching and learning in public schools,\u201d says Henre Benson, director of CASME. \u201cThe Science2Go Mobile Resource Centre is a cost-effective solution to address the lack of access to scientific educational resources in rural and peri-urban public schools that either lack the funds to provide adequate laboratory equipment or do not have any laboratories at all. It not only brings much-needed resources, but also experienced facilitators to build teachers\u2019 capacity and skills.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to CASME, the National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS) Standard Report indicates that only around 18 percent of ordinary public schools across the country have science laboratories, and in Eastern Cape this figure is even lower at less than six percent \u2013 which highlights the need for strategic interventions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScience2Go is tackling this situation head-on by providing a community of schools with access to both the resources and the expertise to deliver meaningful science teaching experiences,\u201d Benson says. \u201cIt will increase practical, hands-on learning and aims to enhance learners\u2019 interest, participation and enrolment in science at the senior secondary and tertiary level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Ford Science2Go Mobile Resource Centre will visit each of the targeted schools three times per term. Prior to the school visits, teachers will participate in workshops aimed at improving their skills and knowledge. Furthermore, the Science2Go team will provide learners with special sessions pertaining to career, study, and subject choice information relating to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Participating schools also take part in an annual Science Olympiad where learners\u2019 knowledge and skills of practical science is evaluated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver the three-year implementation of the project it is expected that learner performance will improve by 20 percent, and enrolment in Physical Sciences will increase by 20 percent in the project schools,\u201d Benson says.<\/p>\n<p>The selection of Nelson Mandela Bay as the location for this project is apt, as it is where Ford\u2019s legacy started in South Africa in 1923. It is also home to the Ford Struandale Engine Plant in Gqeberha which opened in 1964. The plant currently machines components and assembles engines that are used in the Ford Ranger and Everest produced at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria. Machined components and fully assembled engines are also exported to Europe, Asia and South America.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEducation plays a vital, foundational role in empowering and uplifting communities, particularly in South Africa where access to the necessary resources, training and practical learning opportunities is limited,\u201d says Shawn Govender, plant manager of the Ford Struandale Engine Plant in Gqeberha. \u201cPartnering with innovative non-profit organisations and far-reaching projects such as Science2Go is essential to help equip the youth of today with the necessary skills and practical training that will help create the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScience2Go is a tangible way of addressing the dire shortage of qualified professionals in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which is currently one of the major inhibitors of economic growth and job creation in South Africa,\u201d Govender adds. \u201cThis skills shortage is clearly evident in our manufacturing operations where we battle to find qualified people to fill essential roles in all of the engineering fields, along with fast-developing sectors such as mechatronics and robotics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTherefore Ford is privileged to be supporting this project for the next three years in Nelson Mandela Bay, both through the grant from Ford Motor Company Fund, and by providing the mobility for the project with our proudly South African-built Ford Ranger, powered by an engine produced right here in Gqeberha. It reinforces our Ford+ value of caring for each other, and reaffirms our commitment to education by enhancing the skills of teachers and reigniting interest and enthusiasm for science amongst our learners,\u201d Govender adds.<\/p>\n<p>CASME was established in 1985 as an education development organisation, focusing on school maths and science interventions in South Africa. It is currently responsible for education projects across the country involving approximately 1 000 schools and around 2 800 teachers.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2015 CASME has operated Science2Go Mobile Resource Centres in collaboration with project partner Mahle Behr, an automotive component manufacturer, to bring the resource centre concept to schools that don\u2019t have access to adequate science facilities or fully trained teachers. To date, the project has reached 493 schools, 1 902 teachers and over 80 000 learners.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are proud to welcome Ford as the sponsor of our Science2Go Mobile Resource Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay,\u201d says Alex Holmes, managing director, Mahle Behr South Africa. \u201cIt\u2019s only through partnerships, such as this one, that South Africa can hope to enhance the skills of learners in the STEM space. We are grateful to Ford for its generosity towards this exciting endeavour.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mypr.co.za\/contact\/featured\/\">CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-pagination pagination\">Pages: <span class=\"post-page-numbers current\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Page <\/span>1<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre\/2\/\" class=\"post-page-numbers\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Page <\/span>2<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\">Source: MyPR.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republish for Free Republish This Story Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Science2Go Team and students doing experiments Photo: Not required * 10 000 learners and 30 teachers at 11 project high schools in Nelson Mandela Bay will benefit from new Science2Go initiative, sponsored by Ford* Additional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":218837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9021,1],"tags":[3257],"class_list":{"0":"post-218836","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mypr","8":"category-south-africa","9":"tag-mypr","10":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/thousands-of-learners-in-nelson-mandela-bay-to-benefit-from-ford-sponsored-science2go-mobile-resource-centre.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218836\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}