Africa-Press – Liberia. The National Science Week commemoration which aims to raise awareness through sharing of some technological developments will inspire the youth to develop interest in science.
Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Ms Nnaniki Makwinja said this when officially opening the National Science Week in Letlhakeng on Tuesday.
Ms Makwinja said the engagement of diverse stakeholders such as policy makers, researchers, scientists, learners and the communities created ample opportunities for pupils to gain insight about science and technology.
She said the National Science Week theme: Leveraging Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Education for Socio-economic Development was in line with country’s aspirations of becoming a high income economy propelled by knowledge.
Ms Makwinja said the commemorations were a culmination of a month-long celebrations of science technology and activation, which included the hosting of satellite activities across the country by various stakeholders.
She noted that such a development showed growth and increased awareness of each stakeholder’s contribution and role in the development of the country through STEAM.
As the winds of change blow across the world, no country wants to remain behind in adopting the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), she said, describing that as a new developmental phenomenon that would help reinvent and reshape labour, skills and production which require new skills for employment and ability to adapt quickly to the needs of the new market.
She further said key technologies that drive 4IR included artificial intelligence, robotics, internet, 3D printing, quantum computing and biotechnology.
“During the week, we will witness the commissioning of a biogas digester, which is a technology brought by our own research institution (Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation), and this technology, cow dung and similar biological materials are used as inputs to produce gas that is used for cooking,” the assistant minister said.
When sharing the highlights of planned activities, BIUST Vice Chancellor Professor Otlogetswe Totolo said the national science month was launched on August 1, declaring STEAM activities with the recognition of the importance of Arts as a national interest.
Prof. Totolo thanked all science and technology institutions for collaboratively working with BIUST in view of their unique scientific mandates and shared responsibilities.
Professor Totolo further said they had converged in Letlhakeng to showcase a diverse range of STEAM applications, research, developments and indigenous knowledge.
He said policy makers would have a high level panel discussion on Botswana STEAM education curriculum and there would also be a teacher training session, where responsive methods of teaching science and mathematics would be shared.
The vice chancellor also said some teachers would attend a workshop on Astronomy provided by a team of experts from University of Botswana, BIUST and Diamonds on the Sky
Giving a vote of thanks, Letlhakeng/Lephepe MP, Mr Liakat Kablay said network infrastructure was critical especially in the financial systems of government to ensure that Batswana were served without complaints of poor network.
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
