Service Provider
Medical Research Council

Description of project:

The Medical Research Council based in Parow - Cape Town is, for the third consecutive year, organizing and facilitating the Khanyagula Science Expo. A local expo that involves schools from 'townships' such as Khayelitsha, Langa, Gugulethu, and for the first time Mitchell's Plain. As in previous years, the focus is on encouraging learners to get involved with the expo and providing training around investigations for the educators. However this year, there is a new objective: to initiate educator-led clusters as a means of ensuring sustainability, by encouraging educators to work together and share experiences.

The Shuttleworth Foundation's involvement:

This year the Foundation is not only funding the implementation of this project, but will also be giving away two cash prizes to the best performing schools. This aim of this prize is to encourage schools to get involved with academic support activities such as the expo.

Aims and objectives:

• To encourage more learners from previously disadvantaged schools to get involved in science expo's.
• To equip educators with the necessary skills to enable them to assist learners with their investigations.
• To initiate educator-led clusters as forums for providing continuous peer support.

Timeline and deliverables:

January to October 2004

Status: (March 2004)

The project is fully under way. Clusters have been formed in most of the 'townships' involved and regular meeting schedules have been set up.