From SAEON’s school science camps to university graduation

By Nozipiwo Hambaze, Education Officer, SAEON Elwandle Node Tweet

The SAEON Elwandle Coastal Node’s education outreach programme has been involved in a focused support programme aimed at high schools in the Grahamstown area.

Sibusiso reads a thermometer and Sanele a refractometer as part of their science camp activities

The aim of the education programme is to complement the curriculum by providing support to educators and learners in the form of schoolyard monitoring projects, workshops and marine science camps.

The progress made by learners participating in SAEON programmes is monitored from when they join the programme, which is usually in grade 9, until they exit high school. Tracking and monitoring of the learners continue even at tertiary level.

The programme has yielded star learners such as Sibusiso Spelman-Mkhotyana and Sanele Ntshingana, both from Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School in Grahamstown. They went on to study at Rhodes University and were among the students who graduated in April 2016.

Sibusiso was awarded a BSc degree in Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, while Sanele received his BJourn degree in Journalism and Media studies. Both students are currently pursuing postgraduate studies.

“Tertiary education is important for many reasons,” says Nozi Hambaze, education officer at the Elwandle Node. “Besides being the one thing that no one can take away from you, it gives you a whole range of advantages, coupled with life experience, that enable you to step up to the next level.

“At SAEON we believe that if we look after our youngsters, South Africa will be a winning nation.”

Sanele and Sibusiso gain hands-on experience during their grade 11 science camp Fast forward to 2016 and the Rhodes University’s graduation garden party: SAEON’s Nozi Hambaze is flanked by Sibusiso (left) and Sanele (in traditional attire)