Otjozondjupa education directorate receives mobile lab

Otjikoto B2Gold Mine on Tuesday handed over a vehicle equipped with a variety of physical science equipment only found in modern laboratories, to the Otjozondjupa Region Directorate of Education.

Handing over the donation at Otjiwarongo, the mine’s Assistant General Manager, Dama Fotolela said a similar facility with all physical science equipment also exists at the mine site.

“Therefore, this donation we have made today is called the Little Shop of Physics (LSOP), and it has in it all the modern physics equipment, tools and instruments,” he said.

Amongst others the vehicle is fitted with generators able to produce current in closed circuit and static electricity. There are also tesla coils able to convert energy, and slinky sound transmitters, able to convert energy into waves, explained Fotolela.

The vehicle is further fitted with different thermometers and lights, and Fotolela said the idea is to expose the physical science learners in the region to the instruments which are mostly only seen in textbooks, and also to afford them the opportunity to touch and conduct practicals on the equipment.

Fotolela said fitting a vehicle with these physics instruments is ideal for Otjozondjupa with schools scattered far from each other.

It was acquired at N.dollars 1.5 million including fitting of the equipment.

Otjozondjupa Regional Education Director, Josephine Mutenda was represented at the event, and she said physical science remains a challenging subject in all the schools here.

“Therefore, we are thankful that this little shop of physics from B2Gold will now come in and assist our learners to do practicals and learn by using the instruments,” she said.

Mutenda further urged B2Gold to assist by donating instruments in subjects of Chemistry and Mathematics, which are also still a challenge to so many learners in the region.

Several physical science teachers and heads of departments from different schools attended the event.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency