The Mobile Science Lab Programme is delivering practical Natural Sciences lessons to primary school learners across the Northern Cape, reaching 2 000 learners in Grades 4 to 7 during the first two quarters of 2026. The initiative, launched in 2024, is funded by Boikanyo Solar through its Social and Economic Development programme and is designed to turn abstract concepts into hands‑on classroom experiences.
Practical experiments tailored to each grade
The programme visited seven beneficiary schools: Vaal Oranje Primary School, Douglas Primary School, Bongani Primary School, Ikageng Intermediate School, Bucklands Primary School, Vaallus Primary School and Aalwyn Intermediate School. During the first half of 2026 learners engaged in age‑appropriate, practical activities designed to reinforce curriculum content.
“The programme is helping bring science closer to young learners and creating learning experiences that can inspire them to question, investigate and understand the world around them,” said Denise Schemel, Eskom Young Scientists Expo coordinator.
According to the programme team, Grade 4 learners investigated plant growth and animal habitats, then applied engineering thinking by building paper bridges. Grade 5 learners constructed skeleton models and tested material properties. Grade 6 learners carried out food sample tests to identify nutrients and investigated solubility, while Grade 7 learners created terrariums to study ecosystems and tested everyday liquids to explore acids, bases and neutral substances.
Linking curriculum to community and future opportunities
Lesego Mosiane, social performance practitioner for Boikanyo Solar, said the emphasis is on showing learners that science exists beyond textbooks and classrooms. “We believe that some of the best learning happens when learners can see, test and experience what they are learning in the classroom,” Mosiane said.
Educators and local stakeholders told organisers the hands‑on approach improves learner engagement and supports teachers who may lack practical resources. The mobile lab model also addresses inequality in access to laboratory equipment by taking experiments directly to schools that otherwise would not have such facilities.
Programme scope and classroom activities
The variety of activities is designed to build foundational scientific skills — observation, measurement, experimentation and recording results — across the intermediate primary school phases. The most recent phase of the programme focused on practical modules mapped to Grades 4–7 Natural Sciences learning outcomes.
- Grade 4: Plant growth, animal habitats, paper bridge construction
- Grade 5: Skeleton models, properties of materials
- Grade 6: Food sample testing, solubility experiments
- Grade 7: Terrarium ecosystems, acids, bases and neutral liquids testing
Programme coordinators report that the mobile lab used standard classroom materials and safe, supervised experiments so teachers can replicate exercises after the lab has moved on. This approach aims to leave a sustainable teaching legacy rather than a one‑off demonstration.
| Measure | 2026 coverage (first two quarters) |
|---|---|
| Number of learners reached | 2 000 |
| Number of beneficiary schools | 7 |
Local impact and next steps
By grounding theoretical content in practical activity, organisers say the programme aims to improve learner comprehension of scientific concepts and encourage curiosity that may lead to further study in STEM fields. The mobile lab’s presence also provides teachers with new lesson ideas and demonstrates low‑cost ways to introduce practical work into overcrowded classes.
Stakeholders will be watching whether the experiential approach translates into improved performance in Natural Sciences assessments and higher enrolment in sciences at secondary level. For now, teachers at the beneficiary schools report stronger learner participation and enthusiasm when the lab visits.
The Mobile Science Lab represents a model of private sector investment in school development, showing how corporate social investment can target curriculum‑linked interventions. The programme’s funder, Boikanyo Solar, said the initiative forms part of a broader Social and Economic Development effort but the company did not provide long‑term expansion plans at the time of reporting.
Education officials and school governing bodies will need to consider how to maintain momentum after the mobile unit departs each school, ensuring that hands‑on activities become a regular part of classroom practice rather than occasional events.
The programme’s approach — bringing experiments to learners, empowering teachers to continue practical work, and focusing on curriculum alignment — provides a practical template for improving access to quality Natural Sciences education in rural and under‑resourced areas of the Northern Cape.
