South Africa’s Minister of Science engages learners at SAAO to strengthen STEM education ahead of SONA 2026
Date: 2026-02-12
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande
has visited the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town,
where he engaged with learners from Fezeka High School and Siyabulela Primary
School as part of efforts to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education.
The
engagement, conducted under the District Development Model, focused on
reinforcing mathematics and science education by exposing learners to advanced
scientific research and technological innovation. The visit comes ahead of the
2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), highlighting ongoing initiatives to
develop the country’s future scientific workforce.
During
the visit, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation underscored the
role of SAAO in supporting skills development and research capacity. In the
last financial year, the observatory supervised 27 postgraduate students. Its
engineering team has also contributed internationally, including participating
in the restoration of a major telescope in Egypt.
The
Department highlighted complementary programmes aimed at strengthening the STEM
pipeline, including “train-a-trainer” workshops for curriculum advisors and
coding initiatives targeting Grade 8 learners. Officials noted that such
initiatives are designed to build a long-term pathway from classroom education
to participation in global scientific and technological sectors.
