Engen upskills teachers to prepare Youth for 4th Industrial Revolution

Engen, in partnership with One-on-One Community Based Programme, recently ran a four-month training course for mathematics and physical science teachers from Mogwase district in the North West province aimed at preparing them for our rapidly evolving technological world.

Drawn from 20 participating schools, the teachers attended weekly training sessions at JM Ntsime High School from 18 January until 24 May 2019. Engen’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, Adhila Hamdulay says it has become essential to bridge the gap between theory and practical application as technology increasingly plays a crucial role in our everyday lives.

“This gap can be overcome by upskilling our teachers and providing them with easy access to the equipment, tools and skills that they require to introduce creative problem solving methods for maths and science.” The weekly sessions focused on providing the teachers with training in the latest technological advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics.

They were also taught how to apply creative and innovative thinking in order to navigate the future of teaching and learning. “The idea is to ensure that this knowledge is then passed onto learners. My Lab Kits for example provide physical science teachers with interactive and practical teaching skills,” adds Hamdulay. “The aim is to get learners into the science lab as we believe this hands-on-approach provides them with the opportunity to practically engage with technology and exposes them to cutting edge technological advancements.” The training course forms part of the Engen Maths & Science School (EMSS) programme.

EMSS is a national initiative that addresses key skills shortages in the engineering and technical fields by providing supplementary maths, science and English classes to learners from grades 10-12 at nine centres across South Africa. “Engen is committed to building tomorrow’s leaders and if we want to ensure that the youth of tomorrow are prepared for a rapidly changing world, we need to ensure that they have the right mix of skills, to reach their full potential,” says Hamdulay.