School of Education Hosts Science and Maths Competition

BY: .

The School of Education hosted the Minquiz Regional Competition, an annual national Science and Mathematics competition for Grade 12 learners.

About 130 pupils, accompanied by their teachers, were involved in the event on the Edgewood campus.

Mintek sponsored the event which included lunch, T-shirts/hats, prizes, accommodation and air travel.

According to UKZN academic and co-ordinator of the Quiz, Dr Nadaraj Govender, the School has hosted the competition for the last 14 years.  Govender said the competition aimed to encourage an interest in careers in Science, Engineering and Technology, especially in minerals and metallurgy, and to promote an awareness of the importance of minerals and metallurgy to South Africa.

‘Minquiz is entertaining for all involved while at the same time highlighting the importance of Mathematics and Science as foundational subjects for a career in the minerals and metallurgy industries and other sciences as well as promoting interest in Science and Mathematics teacher education.

‘Ten staff and 15 pre-service science students organise the event and they also advise school students on programme offerings by UKZN as a premier university in South Africa,’ he said.

Govender said participating learners wrote a preliminary multiple-choice question test individually, followed by competing as a team during a live, on-stage oral quiz, also with multiple-choice questions.

‘Semi-finals are held in all nine provinces on the same day and the final is in Johannesburg in July. Questions - in the areas of Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and general knowledge in Science, Engineering and Technology - are in line with the National Curriculum.’

Speaking at the event, Mintek Senior Scientist Mr Tumelo Sepeng encouraged all learners to pursue a career in Science, Engineering and Technology. He advised teachers to maintain passion for the sciences and to reflect their passion in their teaching.

‘As teachers, you should teach science in a fun practical form to enable an easy grasp of the subject. Be aware of the many careers in science and take learners to associated industries and allow them to interact there.’

Winners of the regional competition were grouped into Gold or Platinum categories based on the school’s historical resources and results.

The top two winners for the written quiz in the Platinum category were Ehsaan Mahomed Rajak and Shihal Munesher Sapray, both of Star College. Winners in the Gold category were Senamile Buthelezi of Mlokothwa High School and Mxolisi Ngongoma of Mbambangalo High.

The winners all compete in the Nationals in July in Johannesburg.  The top three schools in the oral quiz in the Platinum category were winners Star College followed by Kloof High and Crawford La Lucia. In the Gold category Siyamukela High was first followed by Mlokothwa High and Sihayo High School.

-          Melissa Mungroo