It is with tremendous pride that I launch the ICT and science laboratory here at Akademia High School in Brandfort.
Thank you all for joining us on this milestone occasion which sees ATNS unveil our 16th laboratory. Indeed, we’ve come a long way since embarking on this journey five years ago where we identified the acceleration of ICT, physical sciences and mathematics skills as our project of choice.
The rollout of these laboratories to rural communities across the country all have one thing in common – ATNS continued commitment to – in a practical and tangible manner provide – our learners and educators with the facilities and tools to become proficient in technology, physical sciences and mathematics.
Running parallel with this five-year CSI programme is our commitment to aviation transformation initiatives. We believe that the rollout of laboratories will not only contribute to the skills development of these learners but potentially put them on the path to a career in aviation. For us, as an organisation, it’s undoubtedly a win-win scenario.
With the rollout of the laboratories, we are hoping that others will follow suit. Our country is still in desperate need of access to quality basic education. According to the latest National Education Infrastructure Management System report, the majority of our schools still don’t have laboratories, libraries or computer centres.
Of this, 74% of schools don’t have libraries, 80% lack science labs and 63% don’t have computer centres according to the report. And the poorer the province, the greater the shortage in infrastructure.
And the time to act is now, the World Economic Forum believes that the careers of the future will be based in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – STEM for short.
Whether you live in the US, India, the UK or Africa, solid STEM education will accelerate your career. But according to the World Economic Forum, there is still a worrying shortage of scientists and engineers in South Africa. In fact, The New York Academy of Sciences has estimated that Sub-Saharan Africa requires 2.5 million more engineers to “address our continent’s development problems”. This is a massive number which offers a great opportunity for job creation and employment.
The good news therefore is, there are jobs available in STEM – but we lack experts. This means these jobs are currently being outsourced to large multinational companies. What we urgently need is homegrown STEM talent and experts to teach them.
With this CSI project we aiming to accelerate STEM expertise. To date, we have reached 16 schools and have in the last two years alone provided in excess of R8 million worth of ICT and science equipment to schools in seven of the country’s provinces. Furthermore, we are sponsoring winter school projects for Grade 10 to 12 which is being rolled out nationally.
Also, to support our teachers, we are in conjunction with the Department of Basic Education, sponsoring Teacher Development Training Programmes in Mathematics and Science.
At ATNS, we have long recognised that our social investment strategy must be a catalyst for change, driven by a focus on education and more specifically on ICT, science and mathematics.
Through this investment, we can prepare the generation of tomorrow to become proficient in emerging technologies such as the Internet of things, robotics and artificial intelligence – all technologies that will not only drive the Fourth Industrial Evolution, offer employment in STEM-related industries but also shape the global economy of tomorrow.
We need this younger generation to take their rightful place as our future leaders, and we at ATNS believe that our ongoing investment in ICT and science centres in underprivileged high schools will make a difference and contribute to their career trajectories and success as adults.
We have high hopes for the learners and teachers here at Akademia High School and believe our contribution will lay a strong foundation, providing access to educations tools that weren’t previously available.
We trust they will embrace the opportunities that are presented to them and strive for successful futures in an ever-changing and advancing technological world.