Zimbabwe is promoting the uptake of Science subjects at A-level through the STEM programme. Makomborero has built and fully equipped a Mobile Science Lab (Biology) as our pilot project. Converting a 20 foot container. The Mobile Lab is now running at our Resource Centre, while we gain experience. This is giving students the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into practice through carefully chosen experiments. We need to raise money for the running costs.
Makomborero has been supporting rural and high density schools for 6 years. We have noticed that schools are unable to adequately provide laboratory experience for students. Teaching of science subjects is mainly theoretical, with little or no practical knowledge. Minimal operating budgets for schools hamper them in building and equipping science laboratories.The Mobile Science Lab will compliment the Zimbabwean Science curriculum enabling students to put their knowledge into practice.
The Mobile Science Lab will provide access to the practical side of Biology and Chemistry to many students. The laboratory will be aimed at Form 3 and 4 O-Level students. Key experiments have been chosen from the curriculum. Each student will leave the laboratory with notes and worksheets pertaining to that topic, having received a meal too.
In future the Mobile Lab will be placed in a central location in a district with many schools accessing the Biology Laboratory. Students will have Biology & Chemistry practical lessons covering experiements found in their curriculum. Teachers will also be able to attend practical workshops. This model will impact up to 150 students a month. We hope students will develop a deep understanding of what they are studying, putting theory into practice.
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
