Directorate of National Science centre

COSTAZ conference

In this August School holiday ,teachers of mathematics, science,design and technology, home economics ,computer science as well as Agriculture Science were scheduled to to have collegial meetings in respective Subject Association Groupings themed Enhancing Teacher Professional Growth in STEM Education:Towards Effective STEM Learning Outcomes.The Zambia Association for Science Educators (ZASE), Computer Science Teachers Association of Zambia (COSTAZ) and the Zambia Association for Technology Education (ZATE) held their National Annual conference from the 15 th to the 19 th of August in Mwembeshi, Livingstone and Samfya respectively.
A National conferences is a culmination of Subject Associations activities because it is done after district and provinial conference activities.At the National Subject Associations Conferences, educators exhibit and share best practices as indiviuals and provinces .Among the conducted activities include enhacing innovations, content and pedagogical as well as research skills.This is meant to inform practice as stipulated in Curriculum Framework 2013 that Subject Associations are professional bodies that are encouraged to participate in the implementation of the Education Curriculum. They provide solutions to challenges that affect the teaching and learning process.
For the Subject Associations that met ,
ZASE gave their stance as regards to Science 5124, Physics 5054 and Chemistry 5070.It was also established that research culture need to be nurtured among science educators.
As regards to ZATE, it was resolved that they needed to be more practical and take their position as Design and Technology in the schools.The productivity, maintenance and entrepreneurship of schools skewed towards Design and Technology.ZATE was challenged to make seen their Graphic Design, Materials and System Technology competences evident in schools and society at large.
COSTAZ has a vital role to play in ensuring enhanced ICT and digital abilities.During the conference teachers practically engaged in programming to enhance their skills .
ZAME, ASEDAZ and HEAZ will hold their conferences from the 21 st to the 24 th of August.

The 2022 JETS competition riding on the prior 7NDP focused on diversification through a multi-sectoral approach of subsequent 8NDP focusing on Economic Transformation and Job Creation included Fashion Technology in the Skills Categories.There were 10 learners who participated in this category and the first prize winner within the category got a brand new sewing machine and seed capital.All pupils who participated showed great talent and potential hence, the need to nurture the portrayed talent.This is an exhibition were interested parties( industry and individuals alike can adopt and help these young ones to commercialise.

Head Teachers gathered in Balmoral Youth Centre at the Head Teachers General Conference were challenged by Director National Science Centre, to create conducive learning environments in schools to support effective learning.Dr.Benson Banda urged the HeadTeachers to be transformational Leaders in their institutions.He encouraged the HeadTeachers to support professionalism among teachers.He also mentioned that for the schools to sustainably conduct school activities, schools needed to be productive through viable Production Unit ventures.The Director guided that Production Units are income generating activities that should not only be Agro based but also include Design and Technology, Wholesale and Retail, Hospitality and Tourism as well as Real Estates.He further encouraged the HeadTeachers to nurture a working team for the benefit of the learners and the country at large.Zambia has potential to reach middle income country status as it has the natural and human resources to drive the country's transformational agenda.

The Head Teachers across the country gathered in Balmoral Youth Innovation Centre were yesterday challenged by Director National Science Centre to think critically about hoe they can make the pupils learning environment conducive for effective learning.In his presentation Dr.Benson Banda urged the Head Teachers to be transformational leaders.In order for the client (Pupils) to be provided the best the players(teachers) need to be motivated and supported professionally.He also stated that for sustainable motivation and sustenance of the learning environment Schools need to be productive through Production Unit.Production unit was to be taken as income generating activities which involve not only Agro but also Design &Technology, Hospitality & Tourism, Wholesale & Retail as well as Real Estates.He further encouraged the SChool HeadTeachers to embrace team work.

Zambia is being driven by a National Developmental Plan (8NDP) whose focus is Economic Transformation and Job Creation.To achieve these aspirations one of the aspects is to make the young generation engage in productivity that enhances skills and a culture of value addition.JETS is one avenue the Ministry of Education is using to emanicipate learners, out of school and college youths as well as teachers to be innovative and contribute to the much needed Transformation the country desires.

The 2022 National JETS fair which commenced on August 8 closd on August 12.Within the 5 days of the fair great talent and skill was exhibited among the learners.The Skills category involved learners in gardening and landscaping, bricklaying, panel beating and spray painting, floor tiling, food and fashion technology among others.
From the skills exhibited we are guaranteed of a future self employed individuals as as landscapers and designers, Builders, Wall and floor Tilers, Tailors , Chefs and ultimately entrepreneurs.The vision of economic transformation and Job creation begins as small as this.A better Zambia is definitely guaranteed if young ones can be productive, resourceful and develop a value culture of sustainable use of resources.

2022 NATIONAL JETS FAIR DAY 5

The Directorate of National Science Centre in the Ministry of Education was today August 12, 2022, commissioned as the country Science Technology Engineering Training Centre.

On behalf of the Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the Honorable Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima, MP, commissioned the STEM center. Also in attendance was the area Member of Parliament for Lusaka Central, Hon. Mulanbo Haimbe, MP.
In the Presidents speech read on his behalf, the Ministry was tasked to commence the implementation of STEM Education as this was the gateway to Zambias much needed Economic transformation.It was stated that for Zambia to attain the status of a middle income country, STEM which includes Science and Technology Innovations as well as research cannot be overemphasised.

The Embassy of Japan and JICA Zambia office attended the commissioning of the STEM Training Centre constructed through Japan’s grant aid scheme titled “Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS)”. The Embassy of Japan in Zambia was represented by Mr. Ominato Satoshi, Deputy Chief of Mission, and delivered a statement on behalf of the Ambassador, Mr. Mizuuchi Ryuta, and JICA by Mr. Matsumura Motohiro, Acting Country Director.

The commissioning was done along side with the National JETS fair awards giving ceremony.In the fair various exhibitions were done in categories that included:
1.ECE and Primary Science
2.Junior and Senior secondary in Agriculture Science, Biology, Chemistry,Entomology, Mathematics, Physics and ICT innovations, olympiads as well as quizzes.
3.Open categories comprising of energy, entrepreneurship, rural development, environmental sustainability , value addition and Robotics innovations
4.Out of school category including; scientific mathematical , technology , ICT and robotics innovations
4.Teacher categories
5.Skills innovations involving bricklaying, Electrical installations, wall and floor tiling,landscape and gardening, panel beating and spray painting as well as food and fashion technology.

The STEM Centre is expected to champion STEM in the country sustainably to bring about development for the current and future generations.

2022 National Jets Fair Day 2

2022 National Jets Fair Day 1

Before the launch of the Program

Saturday 9th July 2022,signifies the landmark in Education provision as the Minister of Education, Honorable Douglas Syakalima launched a local innovative initiative programme dubbed "Let's Seat and Sit the Zambian Pupil".This programme is aimed at alleviating the furniture challenges in Zambian Schools.In his launch speech he alluded to the fact that this programme was one among the many solutions to the desk challenge in Schools.He stated that, this programe is targetted to reduce the deficit of furniture by at least 60% by July 2025. Zambezi as the venue for the launch was selected due to the availability of raw materials and the many disadvantaged schools.He further urged the teachers and learners who were participating to be keen in gaining the necessary skills and competences .This he said can translate into equitable Education provision in our country as it is a viable programme that is aimed at building sustainable economic resilience.
During the ceremony, different stakeholders thanked the Ministry of Education .Notable thanks were from Early Childhood learners who said they were happy to own a desk and will no longer sit on the floor.Gratitude also came from the host school, the District Commissioner 's office as well as the North Western Provice Provincial Education office. During the launch, the Minister of Education directed Permanent Secretaries to set up planning and implementation committees at School, District and Provincial levels as the Ministry attaches importance to the welfare of the learners.Therefore, a conducive learning environment which includes seating and sitting the Zambian Pupil is therefore a worthy undertaking .

As the Let's Seat and sit the Zambian Pupil is underway alot of activities are being done.In pictures
refurbishment of Laboratories
Maintenance of school surroundings
Production Unit activities
Making of desks and chairs
Through all these activities enhancement of competences and skills of learners and teachers is the focus.

The Let's sit and Seat the Zambian Pupil Program is a Home grown innovation addressing the Zambian government's efforts in ensuring that every pupil has a chair to sit on.
Riding on the Government's decentralised policy on acquisition of teaching and learning resources this programe is an initiative to mitigate the current desk challenge in schools .
In this program, the Ministry of Education through the Directorate of National Science Centre working with teachers and learners will make available affordable low cost desks.
The objective of this "Sit and Seat the Zambian Pupil Programme " is to design, develop and produce cost effective desks while in the process acquiring life-long skills.
The New Dawn Government through the 8NDP seeks to develop human capital that can drive SME development.The Sit and Seat the Zambian Pupil is one such avenue that will contribute to the much needed skilled human capital whilst in the side by side creating a conducive learning environment through provision of desks.
This innovation therefore will not only accelerate the provision of desks but also promote competence and skills.The enhancement of skills is a vital curriculum requirement in the current curriculum diapensation of knowledge, Skills and Values".To have effective learning in schools other than presence of competent teachers , availability of learning materials among others every Zambian Pupil need to sit comfortably as they learn .The photo below shows teachers as they commence the desk making in this home grown innovation.

The Ministry of Education through the Directorate of National Science Centre has today commenced a training that is aimed to sit and seat the Zambian Pupil programme in Zambezi District in Northwestern Province.The program which is being held at Zambezi boarding has attracted a total of 1500 participants across Zambezi and surrounding District schools.The participants include teachers and pupils from ECE to secondary level.During the official opening of the program Zambezi District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) alluded to the fact that currently most pupils in the District have inadequate desks and thus this "Sit and Seat the Zambian Pupil Program" was timely.He thanked the New Dawn Government for the support of the wellbeing of the pupils through this program.On behalf of the District, the DEBS pledged maximum support and cooperation and urged pupils present to be active in the process in order for them to gain life skills.