Background

BOSTEC has been engaged in the promotion of Maths, Science & Engineering since 1995 March through the teaching of secondary school learners from Grade 10 to 12. The Centre is located at Burgerreght village in Blouberg Municipality of Limpopo Province. The initial focus was on assisting in upgrading the standard of Mathematics and Physical Science and also to encourage more schools and learners to introduce and learn the subjects respectively. This was influenced by the high failure rate in Mathematics & physical science in the rural schools; few schools had the two subjects in their curriculum. The programme is continuous and more learners are involved in the extra tuition offered of secondary school learners as all schools in the area have Maths & Science in their curriculum.

The challenge ahead of the Centre is to address the high failure rate in the mentioned subjects and to have many learners taking and achieving good results in Maths and Science in higher grade. With the available eight qualified educators the centre is hoping to achieve a good and positive impact on the learner’s results. BOSTEC programmes started to be funded in 1998 by the National Transitional Development Trust (TNDT) and later by many other organisations. Currently the BOSTEC receive financial assistance from Department of Science & Technology (DST), Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) and South African Agency for Science & Technology Advancement. Such funding was meant for various projects.

Mission Statement

BOSTEC develops academically, scientifically, socially and technologically competent learners, who are responsive to the broader needs, challenges of society and who obtain excellent and quality results in Maths, Physical Science, English and Biology, to suit the changing education society. This is done through:

• Offering bridging lesson in Maths, Physical science, English, Biology, Technology and the world of work.
• Promoting the love of Maths and Science among the youth in the most rural area.
• Running educator empowerment programmes in the above-mentioned subjects.
• Organizing and conducting youth development programs.

• Main and ancillary objectives

  • To offer supportive lesson for learners in Grade 8 to 12 in Maths, Physical science, English and Biology. This is done on Saturdays and during school vocation.
  • To help in upgrading the pass rate in the metric result for the participating Schools.
  • To inculculate the love of Maths and Science especially among the youth.
  • To empower Learners with skills necessary for their future careers and needs.
  • To make Maths and Science more interesting for learners.
  • To empower the teachers with the relevant methodologies for the new curriculum.
  • To inculculate the habit of reading, writing and studding in the community.
  • To eradicate poverty through training learners for future careers.
  • To run community support and development programmes.
  • To promote social and moral progress of the community.

Vision Statement

BOSTEC will remain the leader in Science & Technology in rural communities.

Future Plans

This center has a vision of becoming the leader in Science & Technology Education. Much work needs to be done in order for the Centre to reach that level. This includes infrastructure development, building and purchasing exhibits, identification of projects/skills required in the community and strategise on them. HIV/Aids programs is part of today’s’ needs, as such BOSTEC has in mind a plan to launch programs that will help the community in preventing and fighting the disease.

Management

Management Board: The community members, parents and Tutors, form part of the management body, with a constitution. Management Practice:
BOSTEC has employees on part time basis, a Managing Director and nine(9) Tutors. On full time basis, an Administrators, secretary (typist), two security guards and a cleaner. These are people who get paid so far, and each group has its job description that outlines fully their roles and responsibilities.

Administration:
A full time staff i.e.Administrator and the Secretary are responsible for all day-to-day administrative work. The office operates from Monday to Friday between 08h00 and 16h30. Overseeing the administration team is the center’s Managing Director who serves as the head of the whole staff of the center. All incoming and outgoing correspondences are recorded and filed, including all reports of each and every activity.

Planning:
The administration team, Managing Director, teaching staff, Management Board and other interested parties like businessmen; development structures and Municipality contribute towards planning of activities of the center. Administration staff compiles all governing and implementation documents and compiles reports. Constant evaluation is done to ensure proper service delivery. Sub- committees may also be formed on special programs that may be arranged .

Achievements

Bostec as a rural and community initiative its achievement are as folllows:

• Sustainability - The centre managed to be sustain under very poor working conditions.However through hardworking and commitment from both members and beneficiaries the centre is running its 14^th year this year(2008)
• Bostec form part of the network of Science centre lead by the Department of Science and Technology(DST) and receive an annual allocation of programmatic support from DST
• Through DST Bostec take part in the implemantation of Departmental programmes including National Science Week,Youth into Science strategy and more
• In 2008 Bostec has been empowered with six full time volunteers and two Interns they are full time time employed staff with their renumeration taken care by DST through NSTF and NRF respectively.
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