The Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education is proud to announce a substantial increase in the 2019 enrolment for Natural Science. This scarce skills subject is an elective for senior and intermediate phase students. Currently 137 students have registered compared to only 3 students in 2016.

This increase is attributed to combining the senior phase classes – which were previously taught in the extended programme in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences – with the intermediate phase classes in the Faculty of Education, lowering the entrance requirements for the course; and to the extensive marketing initiatives that have brought students from far and wide.

In maintaining the quality of lectures and providing students with multiple opportunities to gain hands-on practical experience, the Department has invested in tutors/practical demonstrators. This creates an additional platform for students to receive assistance from their peers when engaging with the content.

During their first laboratory practical this semester, students did flame tests using different metal powders and salts. The variety of flame colours produced was used to explain the production of fireworks with different colours. It was an exciting and fun experience for the students as for many of them this was their first hands-on practical experience using the appropriate lab apparatus.