STEM Indaba 2024 Stakeholder Feedback

The second instalment of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Indaba was held in East London on Wednesday 27 March 2024.
The initiative is a joint partnership between the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) and the Eastern Cape Human Resource Development Council (EC HRD Council) for stakeholders in the ecosystem (i.e. within the basic education and post-schooling system and beyond) to collectively work together to improve intake and performance of STEM subjects in the province.
Key insights shared at the Indaba include, the impressive improvement recorded by the province in Grade 12 maths results in 2023. The subjects are considered gateway-subjects that provide learners with limitless opportunities to access post-school career pathways.
The indaba was well-represented by a host of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics enthusiasts from the national Department of Basic Education, ECDoE, Department of Higher Education and Training, Nelson Mandela University, Walter Sisulu University, Rhodes University, Coega Development Corporation, SETAs and Eastern Cape Automotive Industry Development Centre, who shared ideas and inspired each other to continue their work of increasing STEM subjects intake from foundational level.
The indaba also reflected on the progress made towards the recommendations developed during the 2023 STEM Indaba, it also considered recent research outputs in relation to STEM, and shared best practice and success stories.
Stakeholders also engaged in open dialogue and collaborative brainstorming to identify new strategies and solutions, and also renewed their collective commitment to advancing STEM teaching and learning in the Eastern Cape.