IN THE NEWS NC schools benefit from observatory

THE SOUTH African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) handed over a revamped science laboratory and new desks to two local schools in Sutherland.

The handover on Thursday was followed by Friday’s launch of a new optical telescope, MeerLICHT, by the SAAO near the Karoo town.

Speaking at the handover ceremony at Roggeveld Primary School on Thursday afternoon, SAAO director, Professor Petri Vaisanen, said the donations to the schools showed SAAO’s renewed commitment to invest in the local community.

“I am really delighted to have this kind of communication with the town and the schools, especially because it is one of the things I believe in very strongly.

“The observatory as a whole is educational and having a hightech science enterprise just next to the town it would be totally wrong not to have it make an impact on the community. This is something we want to grow together with the school governing body, the school and the municipality,” he said.

While Sutherland High School received a new science laboratory, Roggeveld Primary School received 56 new desks to replace rundown desks that they have been used for decades.

Sutherland High School principal, Persephone van der Ross, said that the new lab would improve the standards of learning.

She said the old lab was outdated and that some of the teachers used the same facility while they were pupils years ago.

The new “up-to-standard” lab is now equipped with a new science experiment kit and lab accessories which pupils can use to take their school work beyond the theory aspect of the curriculum.

They can now do lab experiments that they could not do before the lab was upgraded.

Addressing guests shortly after the handover ceremony, Van der Ross said the location of the SA Astronomical Observatory at the town has brought a huge change to local learning.

“Because of the South African Astronomical Observatory on our doorstep, we know that science plays a crucial role in the development of our pupils to further their dreams not only in astrophysics but in all fields of scientific development.

“Therefore, we see this as a privilege, knowing that we are only a small rural town.

“The pupils of this school, especially those who have maths and science as their core subjects, are in awe of the use and availability of this brand new lab. With the establishment of this state-of-theart lab, I hope that the number of pupils will grow rapidly and that they will be able to excel in the field of science,” she said.

Roggeveld Primary School principal, Christo van Wyk, welcomed the donation of the new desks, saying the SA Astronomical Observatory has had a relationship with the school for years and that similar contributions have been made in the past.

“The kids are sitting more comfortably. The old desks I am talking about are desks that (I sat on) in my days as a pupil at this school,” he said.