This will provide learners with the skills and compentencies to prepare them for the fourth Industrial Revolution and the fast-cdhanging world of work.

Coding

Coding is due to be piloted from 2020 in 1,000 schools across five provinces. The coding curriculum will help to develop problem solving, critical thinking, creativity and teamwork.

Motshekga has revealed that the University of South Africa (UNISA) has partnered with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) by making available their 24 ICT Laboratories throughout the country for the training of 72,000 teachers in coding.

She added that Google, Teen Geeks and other businesses through are supporting the DBE to develop a coding platform that utilises Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to customise teaching and learning.

Robotics

Motshekga said that the robotics curriculum will have a strong foundation in engineering and will enable learners to build and operate robots through programming code.

“This robotics curriculum will provide hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent” she said.

Learners will start with cardboard construction activities and by Grade 9, will be building computers from scratch. “This will not only develop STEM skills, but also contribute to effectively developing children’s creativity, critical thinking, design thinking, and digital skills. This will ensure that South Africa develops learners who are makers and inventors who will contribute to building an innovative culture in South Africa.”

Source: www.businesstech.co.za

This article has been edited from the original:  https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/304940/big-change-for-matrics-in-south-africa/

It is this belief which people pick up from an early age that can lead to life-long anxiety whenever we try to multiply or divide numbers. What is 72 divided by 9? We ought to have learnt our times tables in school… But many of us simply freeze when we are faced with such calculations, and we end up reaching for our phones to work it out.

What seems to underlie this problem is not that we ‘can’t do maths’, but that we fear it. It is a fear that goes back so far into our childhood – think of the stress you felt due to class tests at a young age, and then exams as a teenager. We thus first need to confront that fear and anxiety before we can hope to gain a better mastery of arithmetic.

In training sessions with adults, one of my trainers at ICHAF tells learners, ‘Don’t let the maths panic get you.’ What does she mean? When faced with maths-related questions, we panic before we get a chance to learn the steps to solve them. ‘Everything we do in maths has a logical basis. You just need to learn the steps to follow to reach the answer,’ she says.

If we can try to hold our anxiety at bay or suspend it for as long as possible, and then begin the steps required, arithmetic becomes much less stressful, and we can begin to master it. It is now widely recognised that EQ – emotional intelligence – is more important than IQ. This makes sense in terms of maths. We first need the emotional discipline, not to understand maths initially, but to gain control over our own emotions: our fear and anxiety about maths. Once we do that, we can develop the clarity of mind required to focus on and work with numbers.

Without the unnecessary baggage of anxiety, maths becomes so much easier. In fact, maths is a lot of fun, and it’s very rewarding. Many great careers and hobbies require a good foundation in maths.

What’s so important also is to help others, especially children, to combat the fear and anxiety that comes with maths. We must be careful as adults not to mislead children into thinking that maths is ‘too difficult’. We must avoid creating such anxiety in others as it is extremely detrimental to their personal growth. Remind yourself and others: ‘Don’t panic, just follow the steps.’

What if someone’s difficulty with maths is more serious than a short-term panic, however? Have you heard of dyscalculia? It is a type of learning disability that entails serious difficulty working with numbers and arithmetic. People with dyscalculia may struggle with number-related concepts and relationships. Using the various formulae, symbols and functions in mathematics proves to be a serious challenge for them.

A person with dyscalculia may swap numbers around or struggle to translate numbers in digits into words, and vice versa. Even quantities, measurements and relative size can be challenging. For example, they may not understand how 100cm can be equal to 1m and to 0.001km.

Something common among those with maths anxiety and dyscalculia is the difficulty in holding numbers in working memory and then following steps to solve a problem. Many of us easily get confused and give up.

When someone manages to work something out in their head, we may be truly amazed and think they have some exceptional, almost magical ability. What they have managed to do is focus on the numbers and block out other concerns long enough to figure out the problem. There’s also nothing wrong with using pen and paper to work problems out.

It’s important, nevertheless, to understand that it is not that people with maths anxiety or dyscalculia can’t do arithmetic. They need time, patience and practice. Trying to do maths under pressure is what makes it impossible. In the end, it’s up to us not to hold ourselves back in maths development. Despite disabilities such as dyscalculia, or with the more common maths-related anxiety, arithmetic skills can still be learnt.

By Devan Moonsamy CEO of The ICHAF Training Institute

The ICHAF Training Institute is a Seta-approved training and development company. ICHAF offers NQF levels training in business, computer skills training, and soft skills development, among other programmes.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za

We’ll tell you why – but first, let’s answer the question “what are STEAM subjects?”

STEAM fields are science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, or applied mathematics. STEAM is designed to integrate STEM subjects into various relevant education disciplines. These programs aim to teach students innovation, to think critically and use engineering or technology in imaginative designs or creative approaches to real-world problems while building on students’ mathematics and science base. STEAM programs add art to STEM curriculum by drawing on design principles and encouraging creative solutions: Source: Wikipedia

STEM stands for:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Art
• Maths

At school or college, the list of STEAM subjects is pretty big:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Design and technology
• Maths
• Information and communications technology (IT or ICT)
• Computer science
• Economics
• Geography

STEAM subjects are important because they form the basis of a huge number of careers. Some of these jobs might be obvious – like research scientist, doctor, engineer and accountant. But others – such as software developer, pilot, architect – are not so obvious.

That’s why it’s so important to think carefully about your career plans when choosing your subjects for grade 10. STEAM subjects also give you loads of transferable skills which you can apply in any career.

Take a look at this video to find out why you should consider a STEAM career:

STEAM careers are creative

Many STEAM careers need creativity as much as the more analytical skills traditionally associated with STEAM subjects. Most STEAM roles are about coming up with solutions to problems – and problem-solving is often about thinking creatively or “outside the box”.

Take architecture – it’s a core STEAM career. Architects use complex maths every day. And yet it’s one of the most creative careers out there. It’s a perfect examples of where maths and creativity come together.

At the same time, STEAM subjects require research, attention to detail and a critical approach which is useful in any profession or subject. This means STEAM and arts/humanities subjects complement each other well as skills gained in one can improve your approach to the other.

What careers can STEAM subjects lead to?

The breadth of careers STEAM subjects can lead to is actually pretty breathtaking.

Here’s a mix of the everyday – and the out-of-the-ordinary. We’ve even included a guide to the school/college subjects you must study to go into each profession:

• 
• Space scientist: From astronauts and rocket scientists to meteorologists and climate scientists, space scientists study the Earth’s atmosphere, as well as outer space and the things in it. Must study: Physics.
• Doctor: General practitioners see patients locally to diagnose illnesses, while consultants specialise in a particular area of medicine, and surgeons carry out operations. Must study: Biology.
• Civil engineer: Design the buildings, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Must study: Maths.
• Accountant: Prepare and look at companies’ accounts: that is, the money they spend and receive. Must study: Maths.
• Web Developer: Use computer programming languages to build and improve websites and online apps. Must study: Maths.
• Marine biologist: Studies sea creatures, from their behaviour and the way they interact, to the impact of humankind. Must study: Biology.
• Automotive engineer: Design and improve land vehicles like cars, lorries and vans. Must study: Maths.
• Chemical engineer: Make and improve medicines, household products like detergents, and cosmetics, which involve the use of chemicals. Must study: Maths.
• Architect: Come up with the designs for buildings and other things in the built environment, from bridges to football stadiums. Must study: Maths.
• Statistician: Use information to draw conclusions about the real-world. Must study: Maths.

What’s great about STEAM careers?

Good employment prospects

Today, South Africa and many other countries face a skills shortage in STEAM. This is bad news for the country. If this continues, there will not be enough people in fields such as engineering, medical research and even healthcare to meet our needs and keep the economy going.

The upside is it’s good news for STEM graduates as it means there are plenty of jobs for those with STEM qualifications.

STEAM skills are flexible

If you studying engineering, you end up in engineering – right? If you study computer science, you have to be a programmer?

Not necessarily. While it’s true that STEAM subjects – whether studied at university or through a TVET college – lead towards a particular career, the skills you pick up are very transferable. That means you can apply them to lots of different jobs.

‘Great transferable skills mean all learners should consider studying 1+ STEAM subject’

Here are some of the skills you’ll pick up by studying virtually any STEAM subject:

• Problem-solving
• Lateral thinking
• Critical thinking

According to research, analysing and investigating is the fourth-most sought after skill by employers.

You can make a difference

The sheer breadth of STEAM roles means there’s bound to be something you care about. Here are just some of the ways you could make a difference by pursuing a STEAM career:

• Protect wildlife as a biologist.
• Tackle global warming as a climate scientist.
• Develop new treatments for disease as a chemical engineer.
• Help treat and cure patients as a doctor or nurse.
• Develop greener ways of powering vehicles as an automotive engineer.

You can earn a lot of money

Adzuna’s research, which was conducted in August 2018, compared the average salaries of jobs that require applicants to have specific STEAM degrees. Coming in at the top of the results, chemical engineers earned average salaries of R603,999 if they held bachelors or master’s degrees in the subject. Graduates with civil engineering and computer science degrees came in at second and third place, earning average salaries of R577,579 and R546,259 respectively.

Graduates that have degrees in mathematics and life sciences are offered average take-home pays of R389,887 and R313,400.

Do I have to go to university?

No. TVET and Universities of Technology also require STEM subjects for some qualifications,
Other STEM careers do require a university degree, such as doctor, nurse, research scientist, and marine biologist.

Our tips

• Think about what you’d like to do in your career so you know how STEM subjects can help you. Take a look at our post “What job should I do?”
• Take at least one STEM subject, even if you’re considering a non-STEM career, or are planning to study for an arts or humanities degree at university.

Image credits

1. Pixabay

2. Freepik 

3. Freepik

So with the massive demand for skills in STEM careers, why are so few women missing out on these prime employment opportunities?

We can blame the bias of previous generations for that. After all, boys became doctors, girls became nurses. Boys become engineers and scientists, girls married them. As sad as it seems today, this cultural nonsense has framed our current reality in many ways – and therein lies the opportunity!

Eight out of the top 10 scarce skills occupations in SA right now are STEM-related (Source: Department of Higher Education and Training) And, you are more likely to grow in a STEM career because the sector is expanding so fast and is not about to slow down anytime soon.

By 2020, almost 80% of all jobs will require STEM skills according to a recent STEM report.

But best of all girls, a recent study from Columbia University shows that: Women are better learners, better communicators and better at handling interview stress! So the jobs yours if you want it!

The 4^th Industrial Revolution is upon us. It is no longer a future concept; it’s here. And with it, a lot a traditional jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence (yes, the machines are taking over).

While it causes some concern to think that jobs your parents had might not exist when you leave school, the exciting part is that millions of new jobs will be created. Innovative, highly-rewarding careers that will only be open to those who have the education and skill set to fill them.

And Grade 9 is the perfect time to set your course to be among those qualified candidates.

It is estimated that by 2020, as many as 80% of all future jobs will require a STEM education, and the SA Government has recognized that it urgently needs to introduce programmes to encourage learners to take up the sciences and engineering.  The future is bright for South Africa. However, for continued growth, it needs to bring more of its workforce into the 21st century and attend to their current lack of STEM skills.

It’s a sad fact that 60 per cent of the country’s unemployed don’t have a Grade 12 certificate and those seeking further education are gravitating towards business, economics and social science. With so few learners adopting maths, computing, engineering, health and natural sciences – the SA economy is left with a massive skills shortage in preparation for the shift to STEM careers.

Industry leaders are on the lookout for this new wave of school leavers. Be sure to be among them.