UCT student develops new subject

UCT postdoc Dr Gillian Sheridan is lending a hand to Western Cape schoolteachers to develop materials on mining and minerals processing, a subject that has just recently been introduced into the grade 11 curriculum.

On 9 October, 55 maths and science teachers from across the Western Cape and two subject advisers from the province's Department of Education gathered in the Department of Chemical Engineering where Sheridan shared her expertise.

Sheridan has received funding from Anglo American and Anglo Platinum to develop the material. She has also been able to hire the help of Rene Toerien, former science and maths teacher at Rondebosch Boys High School and the ideal person to write the material, Sheridan says.

The material has been piloted at five local schools and another trial will take place in January/February 2008, before the final version is printed next April.