Secunda – The Sasol mathematics and science flagship, Osizweni Education and Development Centre has welcomed the donation of a BMW 3 Series educational display car sponsored by BMW South Africa in a joint effort with the Department of Science and Technology (DST). In addition, the DST will be donating a mobile laboratory to the centre, which will assist with efforts to reach as many learners as possible through science and mathematics education. 

BMW South Africa has collaborated with the DST in the handover of the fifth BMW 3 Series educational display car as part of their continued commitment to enhance passion and excellence in mathematics, science, engineering and technology studies in the country.

“The Cape Town Science Centre, Vuwani Science Centre in Limpopo, Unizul Science Centre in KwaZulu Natal and the North West University’s Mafikeng Campus Science Centre have already benefited from the donation of their BMW 3 Series educational display cars and we have received an encouraging response from the centres as a result of the display,” said Guy Kilfoil, General Manager: Group Communication and Public Affairs at BMW South Africa. “We are pleased to be donating another BMW 3 Series educational display car to the Osizweni Education and Development Centre in Secunda.”

The car was officially handed over to the centre at a ceremony on Tuesday, 08 October, where the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Advocate Michael Masutha, addressed the guests and media. “As the vehicle boasts various technologies, which are all inspired by science, research and innovation, I trust the vehicle will inspire learners with hope and energy to excel in their studies and chosen careers.”

The role of DST in the development of science centres is to contribute to an environment that enables local centres to operate optimally. “The science centres serve to educate and promote science and technology by engaging schools and the public as well as to develop, nurture, encourage and support talents in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) making the collaboration with BMW South Africa hugely beneficial,” added Advocate Masutha.

“Irrespective of some key challenges within the South African education system, our tenure at Osizweni has been one of advocacy to intensify awareness of mathematics, science and technology in the Highveld Region of Mpumalanga. With the support of the government and valuable stakeholders like BMW South Africa, we are confident that we will reach more learners,’’ said Velaphi Gumbi, General Manager, Osizweni Education and Development Centre.

“Osizweni remains committed to the development of learners to ensure that we produce scientists and mathematicians who will plough back their skills to the development of our country,” adds Gumbi. 

The BMW 3 Series educational display cars were built in the pre-production stage of the new BMW 3 Series at Plant Rosslyn, Pretoria in early 2012. As pre-production vehicles, they are not allowed to be registered and would have been scrapped.

“Deciding to put these vehicles to better use was an easy decision to make and one that we are very proud of. We have seen from our BMW Mathematics, Science and Technology Excellence Project (MST) programme, running in 42 schools around the country, that children learn about science and mathematics best when presented with real-world practical examples that they can touch, see and feel,” added Kilfoil.

BMW South Africa’s MST Project deploys mobile laboratories, known as BMW Centres of Excellence, to schools that serve historically disadvantaged communities. As a result, more than 40 000 learners and 148 teachers are direct beneficiaries of this project, which delivers mathematics and science pass rates around 20% higher than the national average.

The Osizweni Education and Development Centre provides support to learners and educators in the fields of mathematics, science and technology education in the Standerton sub-region of Mpumalanga.

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Alex Anderson,
Sasol Group Media Manager
Direct telephone +27 (11) 441 3295; Mobile +27 (0) 71 600 9605;
alex.anderson@sasol.com