3 days ago
Atteridgeville schools equipped with new science labs
Four schools from Atteridgeville now boast new science laboratories.
These include Bokgoni Technical Secondary School, Hofmeyr High School, Edward Phatudi Comprehensive School, and Seaparankwe Primary School.
This is through the hands of the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, alongside the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who recently handed over the facilities to the school management and learners.
The School Science Lab Handover Programme took place on August 7 and was a collaborative initiative between the Department of Electricity and Energy and private sector partners.
The initiative seeks to improve the quality of science education in township schools by providing essential infrastructure to foster problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation among learners.
The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) and tech company Huawei donated equipment and technology.
Ramokgopa described the day's events as a remarkable commitment to growing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects among township schools.
'We reaffirmed the place of STEM as subjects that will undergird human advancement and inclusive development. We reasserted the inalienable right of the black, township and opportunity-deprived children to fully participate in the future we desire and construct,' Ramokgopa said.
'These learners will not imagine a science experiment; they will perform it in their own lab with the aid of modern technology. They are likely to get it wrong the first time, and this will drive them to keep on trying until they get it right. It is the fail-fail-succeed continuum that will enhance their chances of academic progression and possibly land them distinctions,' the minister said.
The minister thanked their partners, Huawei, Avon/Didisa, and NECSA for making the project possible.
'Education is fun, it is fashionable, it is an unending enterprise,' Ramokgopa said.
Mhlauli said the donation goes beyond the bricks, mortar, and equipment as it is about opportunity, empowerment and preparing the youth to thrive in the economy of tomorrow.
'As the Presidency, we view this initiative as part of a broader commitment to building an inclusive, skilled and future-ready generation. This science lab handover speaks directly to the goals of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) and the broader National Development Plan,' Mhlaudi said.
'We know that a lack of foundational infrastructure in schools, particularly in the sciences and technology, holds back many young people from fully participating in our evolving economy. That is why we support and welcome this partnership,' she said.
The deputy minister in the Presidency said the initiative reflects the collaborative spirit needed to cultivate growth, asserting that the government cannot transform education alone. She called on the private sector, civil society and public institutions to come together to create a lasting impact in communities that need it most.
'Through the PYEI, the Presidency has championed programmes that link learning to earning. We also recognise that our work starts in the classroom. It begins by creating environments where learners are inspired, equipped and supported to dream and succeed. Initiatives like this one strengthen that foundation,' Mhlauli said. '
The metro's MMC for Roads and Transport Tlangi Mogale expressed her appreciation for private entities coming on board.
'These science labs will empower our students with the tools and resources they need to excel in the sciences, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Science education is not just about textbooks and theory; it's about hands-on experience, discovery, and innovation,' Mogale said.
She also thanked the minister for the donation.
Watch here:
Good morning Tshwane, and our people especially in Pheli😊. This is Surprise, a grade 11 learner from Atteridgivile and he wants to pursue a career in Nuclear Physics. I believe in his dream and listening to him I knew he had it in him. ❤️
— Tlangi Mogale: CoT MMC for Roads&Transport 🇿🇦 (@tlangimich) August 11, 2025
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