Schools Programme
The Schools Programme is a supporting initiative of the Sasol Solar Challenge, with the main goal of creating awareness, excitement, and unique opportunities for school learners within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sector. The focus is dialled in on school learners with the aim on renewable energy, STEM, and further education within STEM subject studies.
The Schools Programme is rolled out by hosting various activations at identified towns along the route, which is hosted by industry leaders and field experts.
The school learners participate in guided activations with the designated activators making it a fun and exciting experience while focusing on the educational element.
Set to take place during the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge including the year leading up to the event starting from September of the previous year, it is an opportunity not to be missed. The event travels across South Africa over an eight-day period, where five towns are identified, with designated venues to roll out the activations.
These towns are called Control Stop towns which are mandated by event regulations for solar car teams to make compulsory stops at designated towns travelling to the next selected town and venue. The Schools Programme exposes school learners in various communities across South Africa to skills and knowledge sharing opportunities that they might not have access to under normal circumstances.
The goal is to influence young minds to pursue further studies within STEM subjects in the hopes of creating future engineers and though leaders. The 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge reached more than 5776 learners through its schools programme since the event’s official start on 13 September. The event travelled through 18 different towns across South Africa, engaging young people and inspiring them to get involved in STEM.
Five schools activations were conducted in five of the towns along the route; Heidelberg, Vryburg, Upington, Vredendal and Franschhoek. Learners took turns in three stations at each venue to learn about solar technology, e-mobility and robotics in real-life. Each station had toolkits which the learners used as practical examples of robotics and solar energy. Some of the toolkits were provided by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The schools programme ran alongside the event and was conducted in partnership with Microbotics. Microbotics offer robotics, programming and electronic modules for scholars. The event started with a public expo which took place in Johannesburg, where hundreds of school learners from the Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Free State provinces came through to witness STEM in real-life.
If you would like to find out how you can be part of this exciting experience, please contact our Project Manager via manager@solarevents.co.za
