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Initiatives in Astronomy Education in South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2016

Case L. Rijsdijk
Case L. Rijsdijk*
Affiliation:
South African Astronomical Observatory, PO Box 9, Observatory, 7935, South Africa. e-mail: case@saao.ac.za

Abstract

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A brief review of the issues affecting the current status of science education in general, and astronomy education in particular, is given. The paper looks at the present situation at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. South Africa has unique educational problems and the initiatives by local observatories and universities at school level are described. The problems encountered by the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) Science Education Initiative (SEI) are typical, as is the SEI approach to addressing some of these. The experience of the SEI is described, as are some of the resources developed by them for primary and secondary schools. Finally a brief look is taken at future developments, in particular, ways in which the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) can contribute to astronomy and science education.

Type
Section 3: Initiatives in Astronomy Education
Information
Transactions of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 24 , Issue 3: Special session: Astronomy for Developing Countries , 2001 , pp. 117 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Pacific 2001

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