ASABA/Nigeria: Students in two public schools in Asaba are set to have greater access to practical science and technology education following the inauguration of two fully equipped STEAM laboratories in the state capital.
The laboratories were inaugurated at Asagba Mixed Secondary School and Zappa Basic School, providing students with facilities designed to support learning in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
The initiative also included the training of an additional 500 teachers in contemporary STEAM-based teaching skills.
The intervention was implemented by the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited and Seplat Energy Joint Venture as part of efforts to strengthen science and technology education.
The development is significant because practical learning opportunities remain an important component of preparing young people for an economy increasingly driven by technology, innovation and technical skills.
For students, a laboratory offers something different from learning science only from textbooks. It provides an opportunity to experiment, observe processes and connect classroom lessons with real-world applications.
The involvement of the arts component also reflects the broader understanding of STEAM education, where creativity and problem-solving are combined with scientific and technical knowledge.
The training of 500 teachers is equally significant. Modern laboratory facilities can only deliver their full value when teachers have the skills required to use them effectively as part of classroom instruction.
The new facilities therefore represent more than the addition of buildings or equipment to the schools. They could provide a foundation for encouraging students to develop curiosity, practical skills and an interest in science and technology.
For Asaba students who may eventually pursue careers in engineering, information technology, environmental science, medicine and other technical fields, early exposure to practical learning could prove valuable.
The laboratories were inaugurated on September 8, making the development one of the more recent education stories from Delta State.
(tribuneonlineng.com)
