The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has taken it upon themselves to introduce school learners to technology, with the aim of popularizing science among the youth.
The institution says the newly launched Science and Robotics club will help "popularize STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and prepare learners for future careers by exposing them to the foresees of coding."
Science and Robotics Club
Coding, which falls under computer programming, is the process of transforming ideas, solutions, and instructions into the language that a computer can understand.
While the field of science and technology is open to all who wish to join, there is a noticeable gender gap in the industry.
The reasons for this gap can be traced back to gender stereotypes, social beliefs, environmental circumstances and levels of support, which keep girls from maintaining an interest in science and technology.
In South Africa, only 13% of graduates leaving tertiary institutions with qualifications in STEM are women.
Zainoenisa Allie, one of UWC's lecturers in the school of science and mathematics education, says the Science and Robotics club is trying to bring the field of science and technology to previously disadvantaged communities, so that exposure to this "whole new world that they'll be living in" can begin.
The lack of female-led representation and contributions to science and technology means that most women will remain in jobs that are likely to be replaced by technology, lower paying or less economically impactful in an increasingly technology-driven world, especially as we navigate through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Programmes such as GirlHype encourage and train young girls in coding, taught by expert teachers. Girls who participate in GirlHype are exposed to the science and technology field by gaining access to quality content that teaches skills of the future.
Despite the massive strides made in increasing the representation of women in higher education, they are still under-represented in these future-critical disciplines – disciplines in which South Africa is already experiencing a skills shortage.
"What the coding and robotics club wants to do is to wet students' appetite for careers in ICT's (Information and Communications Technology) and develop 21st century skills," says Professor Josef De Beer at UWC.
The research has shown that coding and robotics hold affordances to develop creativity in learners, innovative thinking, problem solving skills; but if you look here [at the club], also cooperative learning, they develop soft skills because it's team efforts.
Coding and robotics are being integrated into the school curriculum, while UWC's Science and Robotics club will offer short learning programmes and workshops for South Africa's teachers to build capacity and for the re-skilling of teachers in the related subjects.
"They need to be part of the game as well, and make sure that they provide these children [with the knowledge of Science and Technology], who are coming from underprivileged backgrounds, because they don't have access at home," says Nonhlanla Shandu-Omukunyi, a member of UWC's Faculty of Education.
This is such an opportunity for this launch to be done here at UWC, because even if research can address such things, if it's not done practically by the teachers then it's a waste of time.
The university is currently working with eight schools during the pilot phase of the club's launching, in areas such as Belhar, Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain.
