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Date : 11/06/2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Shilowa: Launch of Science Edutainment Centre


ADDRESS BY THE GAUTENG PREMIER, MBHAZIMA SHILOWA, ON THE LAUNCH OF THE SCIENCE EDUTAINMENT CENTRE AT NEWTOWN CULTURAL PRECINCT, Johannesburg, 11 June 2003

Master of Ceremonies
MECs
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am honoured and proud to be part of this historic occasion in our province - the launch of this unique and exciting project in the heart of our beautiful city of Johannesburg. This science edutainment centre, as we indicated at the opening of the Provincial Legislature in February, will further popularise science and technology among our young people in an exciting and fun way.

As we all should be aware, the terrible system of apartheid has denied the overwhelming majority of our people access to mathematics, science and technology education. This centre and the other work that we are engaged in seek to change that situation as more black people will now have more opportunities to learn more about science and technology.

Our vision is to create a world class science centre for learners and educators and the public, providing edutainment and interactive exhibits, career mentoring and in-reach and out-reach programmes.

This science edutainment centre will focus on the key factors such as experiential learning, dynamic exhibit policies, future-centric approach, open-minded inclusion of arts and culture, entrepreneurship, quick reaction time to new needs, and the constant re-examination and addressing of public needs.

The centre will further support the Gauteng Provincial Government's Mathematics, Science and Technology strategy and promote scientific literacy through the establishment of a dedicated cultural and educational institution. It will also help us to meet the challenges of curriculum-focused learning and teaching, educator training, public understanding of science, engineering and technology, career mentoring, nurturing of creativity and innovation, life-skills development and skills enhancement.

The long term and extremely important benefits of our Mathematics, Science and Technology strategy and the role of science centres in promoting this strategy are in the social and economic benefits for our province and the country as a whole.

The changing nature of the world economies and the ongoing technological revolution require a technologically skilled, numerate and scientifically literate labour force. Mathematics and science skills are a fundamental general requirement in this regard.

We have been working very hard with the private sector to transform Gauteng into a globally competitive centre. We can already see the results of our hard work as many world acclaimed companies have chosen our province as a suitable location where they manufacture their products for the domestic and foreign markets.

One of the issues concerning foreign companies is the question of skills levels and competencies of all levels of the provincial workforce. If Gauteng is to build on its position as the economic, industrial, financial and IT hub of the country, region and continent, then we need to do more to develop appropriate skills.

We have the opportunity to play a leading role in research and development in numerous fields, including medical, aeronautics, telecommunications, computer science and the automotive industry. To do all these, we need a new brand of a learner - skilled in analytical thinking, continually questioning and reasoning current methodologies and always looking for better ways of doing things.

The addition of a science centre to Newtown - which already boasts several other developments, including the Nelson Mandela Bridge which will be officially opened on 20 July 2003 - will enhance its tourist potential amongst local, national and international tourists, thereby helping to grow the tourism industry of our province and create more jobs.

The work that we have been doing together with the City of Johannesburg to revamp this area as part of the programme to regenerate Johannesburg has resulted in a safer and more secure Newtown, making it a more suitable location for this new exciting project. Many government institutions and the private sector are choosing Newtown as a suitable location for their business.

This will have spin-offs into a variety of other economic endeavours and job creation opportunities. The location of the science centre here will also enhance the image of Johannesburg as the place to be and where cutting edge education and technological development takes place coupled with a dynamic arts and culture atmosphere.

This science centre will be dynamic and aims to be on par with existing world class science museums such as the Science Museum in London, the Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C, the Deutsche Museum in Munich, La Cite in Paris, Techniquest in Cardiff and many other international science museums in the developed and developing countries.

International experience has clearly attested to the contribution of science centres in enhancing learners and society's mathematical and scientific cognitive abilities as well as contributing to urban renewal and tourism.

As has already been demonstrated through other initiatives, this exciting initiative can only succeed if government and the private sector work together in partnership. We call on the private sector to work with us to equip the country with the skills that are required to achieve our reconstruction and development objectives.

Not only does this project provide the private sector with opportunities to develop the competencies of the future workforce, it also provides creative and dynamic opportunities for the private sector to visibly demonstrate and showcase its commitment to mathematics, science and technology development through active sponsorship of sub-projects and programmes in the science centre.

The private sector, like government, has for some time recognized the importance of this field of contribution. Many companies contribute and promote this field of learning and now we provide an excitingly new dynamic additional area in which we know that - working together - we can create a win-win for the business community, Gauteng and the country as a whole.

But more importantly, at an individual level, we help to equip our learners with a real opportunity to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. We equip them with the skills they need to contribute at meaningful levels and we equip our economy with skills that allow us to compete more effectively in the knowledge economy.

We are confident that with all the work that we do - focusing on mathematics, science and technology - the learners that will emerge from Gauteng schools will have a solid foundation which will enable them to become the future engineers, accountants, entrepreneurs, scientists, inventors, biochemists, geologists, innovators and programmers.

For more information contact Thabo Masebe on (011) 355 6036 /082 410 8087
Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government
11 June 2003

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