In an effort to ensure a strong science and engineering skills pipeline, a science laboratory was donated to an Isipingo high school.
Mondi invested R1.2-million to fully equip science laboratories at Reunion Secondary School and AJ Mwelase Secondary School in Lamontville.
At ceremonies witnessed by excited pupils and teachers at the schools, the director of information technology at the KZN Department of Education, Mbali Thusi unveiled the laboratories on Friday, 30 September, which will fulfil a long-felt need for better science teaching.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released its Global Information Technology Report 2016, which ranked South Africa last in mathematics and science education quality for the third year in a row.
“In our business we need quality candidates, with the appropriate knowledge and skills in key sectors such as science and engineering, to be produced by South African tertiary institutions to ensure economic growth,” said Mondi Merebank operations manager, Wayne Simon.
“Therefore, we believe in playing our part in supporting the education sector to deliver higher quality education and to improve the quality and quantity of graduates who are ready to enter the workforce.
You simply cannot produce top-notch science and engineering graduates without good teaching facilities.
When we realised that two schools in our neighbourhood lacked science laboratories, we decided to invest in facilities for practical science teaching.”
He said Mondi looked forward to seeing the success of graduates who would have passed through these two schools.
“We had a science laboratory at the school many years ago. Unfortunately, it was poorly equipped and was converted into an ordinary classroom,” said principal of Reunion Secondary School, Mahalingam Padayachee.
“The new science laboratory built by Mondi has brought us out of the dark ages. It is attractive and is furnished with computers, cupboards, experimental equipment and desks.
Pupils were excited when they entered the new science lab and were eager to start with practical experiments.
We are extremely grateful to Mondi to have been given this opportunity as it has rekindled interest in science and experiments in our pupils.
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