In a remarkable achievement for the Howick community, the WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre in KwaZulu-Natal has been officially accredited as a Science Centre by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), following a thorough evaluation and recommendation process.
This recognises the centre’s commitment to enhancing science communication and education for school learners and the surrounding local communities. The accreditation ceremony, held at the WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre, was attended by distinguished guests including Deputy Mayor of uMngeni local municipality, Sandile Mnikathi, WESSA acting CEO, Cindy-Lee Cloete, and National Research Foundation (NRF) – South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) Managing Director, Dr. Mamoeketsi Mosia.
In a significant boost to the centre’s capabilities, WESSA received nine new Science and Technology exhibits from NRF SAASTA. These include a multimedia aquarium, metal detector, tower of Hanoi, Dr Panic, star drawing, sundial, dizzy viewer with optics, and a Dobsonian telescope. These interactive exhibits will provide learners with hands-on opportunities to explore and understand scientific concepts. The exhibits will enable individual learners to visit the centre and immerse themselves in the science exhibit room, encouraging self-directed learning and experimentation.
“We are very excited to have partnered with WESSA Education Centre,” said Dr. Mamoeketsi Mosia, Managing Director of NRF SAASTA. “We recognise that science centres with live exhibits play a crucial role in growing the science community in South Africa. This handover is a success for us as it helps cultivate a love for science among learners and students in and around Howick.”
Deputy Mayor of uMngeni local municipality, Sandile Mnikathi highlighted the dual educational and economic benefits WESSA brings to Howick: “We often talk about the educational value WESSA uMngeni Valley adds to our community, but we frequently need to remember the positive economic value that its ecotourism brings to our small town. Government cannot do it alone, and we look forward to working closely together and supporting organisations such as WESSA.”
Cindy-Lee Cloete, acting CEO of WESSA, shared her excitement about the new developments: “The accreditation and the new exhibits mark a significant milestone for WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre. We are committed to enhancing our educational programmes and providing engaging, hands-on learning experiences for our learners. These exhibits will greatly enrich our science communication efforts and help us inspire young learners.” WESSA extends and open invitation to parents, learners, schools, and community members to visit and experience these new exhibits. Beginning in October, Science Saturday’s will be held on the last Saturday of every month offering an enriching experience for a nominal fee of R15. For more information, please contact 033 330 3931.
The goal at WESSA uMngeni Valley Education Centre is to improve learning through interactive science communication activities. The new exhibits will significantly contribute to achieving this goal by meeting necessary performance and operational standards for optimal functioning as a science centre.