Anglo Skorpion Foundation Funds Science Education

A schools laboratory funded by the Anglo Skorpion Foundation has been set up at the Teachers Resource Centre in Keetmanshoop, which will offer a practical facility to school pupils from the high schools in the town and region to experience practical science experiments.
The trust was set up in 2008 by Anglo American and Skorpion mine as a way to make sure that financial assistance is available for long term development projects to benefit local communities.
The laboratory which will serve the four schools in Keetmanshoop and schools in Karasburg and Lüderitz is an idea that has come a long way and falls within the requirements of the Government’s ETSIP (Education and Training Sector Improvement Plan) which is being managed through the Teachers Resource Centre, where the laboratory is situated.
The General Manager of Skorpion Zinc and Chairperson of the Anglo Skorpion Foundation, Dave Bentley says the Foundation is committed to making a positive sustainable difference to the future of the disadvantaged communities and people of Namibia. The Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life, especially for those who are most vulnerable, by supporting programmes, projects and services, focused mainly on education, health and entrepreneurial and economic development projects like eco-tourism that can provide an income when the mines have closed.
Over the past two years, the Foundation has channeled N$5 million to various initiatives including the Principal Development Programme for the Karas Region, Mathematics Training for teachers; and the upgrading of buildings to create the southern campus of the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology. This Schools Laboratory has been funded by the Foundation to the total of 250-thousand Namibia dollars this year.
The Anglo Skorpion Foundation considers the science laboratory important and that it will make a notable difference in providing quality science education. As one of the biggest mining companies Skorpion Zinc is famous for the way it mines. Its mining engineers and refinery experts have changed the zinc mine into one of the best, most efficient and cheapest manufacturing operations in the world by designing ways and machinery to get the zinc from out of the ground into the ship to be sold overseas.
“Our contribution of 250-thousand to this Schools Laboratory is not the biggest. But we believe it is important to acknowledge and support such projects to assist with the learning of tomorrow’s leaders. We want to believe that our money in educational projects will benefit Namibia by 2030,” Bentley said.
The 250-thousand dollar laboratory has been equipped with the best of learning tools and equipment that will allow pupils to experience in practice what the syllabus requires. A chemical reaction and a physics concept can now be experienced.
Interactivity is one of the foreseen objectives of the lab. By offering the scholars the opportunity to actively participate and contribute to the teaching process, for example by preparing special topics by themselves, by using the internet in its various forms, and by discussing specific literature, a simulation and preparation for their future professional life will be given.
The laboratory, will not only provide practical science education, but intends to play an important role in the process of re-claiming quality education. By bringing together tutors and scholars from various schools, all spending time together not only during the hours of lecturing, a unique opportunity for exchange of opinions and views will be given. Out of that, long-lasting contacts and even friendships will be created, says the Deputy Director of Education Celie Mostert.
The Manager of the Anglo Skorpion Foundation, Christo Witbooi, urged pupils to take that investment seriously. “Have fun, learn, grow and be a true citizen of this world we live in. Also to the Regional Directorate and teachers in all the schools, a very big thank you for all the hard work you devote into making sure that Namibia’s future is ensured. Skorpion Zinc is a proud player in Making the Right Things Happen and the Foundation will pledge its continued commitment to Caring for Today, by Investing in Tomorrow.

For further enquiries:

Eve Black
Communications Manager
Skorpion Zinc
eblack@skorpionzinc.com.na
Tel: 063 -2712504 / 0811485323