LIMPOPO – Dendron Secondary School (first), Taxila Secondary School (second), and Thengwe Secondary School (third) were the top three placed schools out of 10 participating Limpopo schools.
They recently represented the province during the provincial final of the 2016 Saasta National School Debates Competition.
Dendron will go on to compete against the eight other provincial winners in the national final in Johannesburg on 6 October.
The topic of the essay was: The use of nanotechnology in treatment of polluted water and how it shows great promise in water scarce countries in Africa, such as South Africa.
For the provincial finals, students were given a relevant and challenging topic to research and debate: Do you think Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (HFCT) can improve the quality of life for all South Africans by contributing significantly to the national energy supply or is HFCT more applicable in industry specific local applications?
“Developing a culture that embraces science, engineering, technology and innovation is linked to the overall economic development of any country,” said Michael Ellis, manager of science communication for Saasta.
“In South Africa, we have many pressing socio-economic challenges which require a skilled workforce to help steer the nation towards international competitiveness, economic growth and to generally improve the lives of its citizens.
“Saasta’s goal is to steer young South African minds towards careers in science, engineering, technology and innovation. Debate is a lively and valuable platform that makes scientific information relevant to learners; it’s the spark that can light the fire which fuels a lifelong quest for innovation,” added Ellis.
