Winners of Chevron South Africa's 2015 Science Quest

L - R: Harriet Tewesa (Bosmansdam High School, winner); Busisiwe Maqubela (Chief Operations Officer of the Cape Town Science Centre); Sián Thomson (Edgemead High School,2nd place); Chelsea Billington (Edgemead High School, 3rd place); Zuki Gala (Curiculum adviser at the Metropole North Education District); Donna Fata (Public Affairs Manager for the Chevron Cape Town Refinery).

Winners

The winners of the 2015 Science Quest are:

• 1st place: Harriet Tewesa, Bosmansdam High School
  
• 2nd place: Sián Thomson, Edgemead High School
  
• 3rd place: Chelsea Billington, Edgemead High School

The 80 finalists that took part in the final leg were involved in different science related activities including lab equipment identification, connecting electricity and building station, treasurer and a general knowledge quiz.

The competition, which is supported by the Western Cape Education Department, was open to Grades 8 and 9 from schools from the Metropole North Education District, mostly located around the Cape Town Refinery in Milnerton. The schools participating in this contest are part of the Chevron South Africa Schools' Programme, an initiative set up to support learning in 20 schools in the communities in which the refinery operates. Out of these 20 schools, Edgemead High School, Milnerton High School, Bosmansdam High School, Tableview High School, Bloubergrandt High School, Sinenjongo High School, Inkwenkwezi High School and President Hoërskool took part this year.

Poor maths, science stats

Statistics released in the 2015 Global Information Technology Report by the World Economic Forum, ranked South Africa last in the quality of mathematics and science education. South Africa also finished close to last - 139th out of 143 countries - when looking at the overall quality of its education system.

Donna Fata, Public Affairs Manager for the Chevron Cape Town Refinery says, "Improving the quality of education is a high priority for the government and key to this is a sustainable partnership between government and the private sector. The company is committed to improving educational outcomes in science, technology and mathematics. In addition to our ongoing partnership with the Cape Town Science Centre, we invested around R500,000 into the construction and resourcing of a new science learning centre at Bosmansdam High School in Bothasig in 2014. Since then, the school has reported an increase in the number of learners that want to take up maths and science in their senior years."

The Science Quest is an interactive contest, designed to stimulate an interest in science and convey curriculum content to learners in an entertaining manner. "The aim of this initiative was to create an enjoyable and interactive quest for science knowledge, an experience where winners go home rewarded and more scientifically aware and motivated to learn," says Busisiwe Maqubela, Chief Operations Officer of the Cape Town Science Centre.

Dr Heinie Brand, Director of the Metropole North Education District says, "Activities such as the Science Quest contribute to unlocking the potential of our learners and improving the availability of science skills. We welcome support from the private sector especially in maths and science resourcing to help us address the educational challenges faced by our country."

"Improving maths and science outcomes in schools will reduce some of the bottlenecks that make it difficult to develop scarce skills such as engineers, scientists and architects. If we can harness future engineers and other professions that rely on maths and science skills, we can attract new home grown talent into vacancies that presently cannot be filled by local skills," concludes Fata.