Africa-Press – Lesotho. Through introduction of the Physics Education Technology (PhET) Interactive Simulations in Mathematics and Science subjects, Thaka-Khoali – Lesotho Science and Mathematics Teachers Association
(LSMTA) in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – Science and Mathematics Educators Federation (SMEF) aim to improve Maths & Science curriculum in Lesotho. Thaka-Khoali – LSMTA Interactive Simulations
in Mathematics and Science initiative was launched on Friday last week. Speaking at the launch, UNESCO-SMEF Deputy Chairperson Phakamile Qengwane said the concept of this initiative is to act
globally and think locally, saying they are working on the rollout schedule that will help them to reach every district in the next two weeks. He showed that it could be important
to adopt the United Nations (UN) goals- Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which talk about access to education for
all. “We are part of the global movement, but we have to make it beneficial for us and localize it as we fall under an international organizations. It is our wish that this program may fulfill UN Goal
3 that particularly address a need for meeting learning needs of young people
through equitable access to appropriate learning and lifestyle programs,” Qengwane said. He further added that Goal 8 also embark on in cooperation with the private sector and making available the
benefits of new technology especially information and communication. He said Goal 4 addresses quality education and Goal 9 addresses technology for the benefit
of all and addressing adaptation of all primary and secondary schools curriculum to meet the challenges of information society taking into account national circumstances.
“We strive to establish networks of primary and secondary schools to foster the sharing of experiences through Thaka-Khoali
science clubs and Thaka-Khoali mahlale laboratory services. This is through undertaking research and developing secondary schools especially those that
will enable Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGSE) learning by 2022 and foster the use of developed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based
learning aids such as simulations software for leaners at secondary level,” he noted. Qengwana said it is by fostering interaction of both teachers and learners to the Thaka-Khoali mahlale mobile
digital laboratory facility and linking science and mathematics educational development to economic development through collaboration of the private sector.
LSMTA Public Relations Officer (PRO) Keketso Leteba stated that LSMTA was established in 1969, its mandate is to enhance and facilitate teaching and learning of Science, Technology,
Engineering Arts and Entrepreneurship and Mathematics (STEAM) subjects. “Enhancing performance of STEAM subjects in Lesotho is our responsibility because students from primary level to post primary level need to attain high
grates in these subjects. We have learned that in consecutive years STEAM subjects are deteriorating and it is our obligation to see to it that this concern comes to an end,” he said.
Leteba added that the initiatives like this are going to help them to achieve their mandate. He said a vital role that they are playing in interactive simulations with their competent teachers
is to select simulations according to their concept and level of students in proper arrangement of the objectives of syllabus used in the country. “As
teachers we have been improvising for a long time in classes when teaching, trying to bring something into reality but out of nothing. There is a huge
challenge in terms of laboratories in most of the schools, others have them but there is no enough equipment and the concepts turn out to be difficult,” he
stressed. On the other hand, Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) Inspectorate Jone Marole said the ministry is pleased to have partnered with UNESCO on how to extent Mathematics and Science
knowledge because it is a foundation to most of the students and when they appreciate it, they end up making good choices in life. He said students have
to normalize gaining knowledge of these subjects and put fear aside because they are not difficult, they just need a lot of practice. UNESCO Programs Coordinator ‘Mako
Matšela showed that UNESCO SMEF is involved in quite a number of activities, saying at the fore front is empowerment of youth, especially learners in STEAM
subjects and they are doing this with so many stakeholders including LSMTA. “This is a new born project which has more to do with issues of simulation in
mathematics and science subjects or topics. Initiatives like this one are started by UNESCO but our understanding is that it is a mandate of the MoET to prove that they are supported, therefore we have to interact with the ministry regularly for sustainability,” he said.
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