STEM, if you aren’t already aware, is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. The concept originated in the US, in 2001, and then rapidly spread as a worldwide educational programme, largely to prepare primary and secondary students for later studies, as well as workplace training.
A Brief History of STEM
One can trace the initiation of STEM to as far back as the US Morrill Act of 1862, which focused on promoting agricultural science by establishing land grant universities.
STEM in South Africa
It raises concern that our school education system, to this day, suffers from a lack of sufficient STEM-related subjects, as reflected in the critically low number of university graduates in those industry fields, year on year.
Some understand the root cause of this issue to be the failure of primary school students to comprehend key STEM concepts, at the early stages of their learning development, which then has a negative knock-on effect, upstream, over several grades, especially in terms of maths.
The Royal McGrady Mathematics Academy
This black-owned institution provides specialised curriculum support and teacher support services—aligned with the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and South African Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) curricula—to multiple private and public sector schools, in the fields of maths, physical science, and English. By making use of current technologies, a LMS (Learning Management System) was developed, encompassing a subscription-based online tutorial solution. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications are also being developed, to further enhance the learning experience.
Leoka Golf Day 2022
We at Leoka Engineering firmly believe that investing in our youth is an investment in the future. We’ve thereby introduced Leoka Golf Day to commence on Friday, 18 November, to improve science and mathematics for high school students in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. This will be achieved through a strategic partnership with Royal McGrady, for the goal of raising R4 million. Contributions to this event will assist us in establishing a solid foundation for our future leaders in STEM, affording them support, particularly in maths and science, to better equip students for higher education and a brighter future. Three tiered sponsorships exist, namely R75 000, R100 000, and R150 000, which include various benefits.
STEMulating Educational Development
By incorporating the following recommendations into our schooling system, we are likely to see students benefit on all levels:
1. Employ direct engagement with selected students outside of standard school hours, through Saturday classes, self-study programmes, and vacation schools.
2. Engage with teachers, specifically on how STEM subjects are conveyed and taught. Institute a culture of continued self-development through intensive in-service training and support.
3. Produce high-quality learning materials to make learning more enticing and engaging, especially given what technology affords us, by way of devices, and so on.
4. Inject more project-based programmers into curriculums, by using a combination of STEM-related subjects applied to solving real-world problems, either theoretically and/or practically.
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