Learners in South Africa and Ireland will share the same science lesson via a live video link tomorrow (Thursday, 18 May 2006) as part of an international "Seeing Science" project.

The learners will include young scientists from the Holy Cross Primary School in George and Percy Mdala Secondary School in Knysna, as well as schools in Port Elizabeth.

The learners from George and Knysna will gather in George at the Hurteria Building of the Nelson Mandela Metropole University in York Street.

The Khanya Project of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is facilitating the video link in George. Khanya’s objective is to support teaching and learning using information and communication technology.

The learners from primary schools in Ireland will gather at Queens University in Belfast, which is currently hosting a Primary Connextions Conference on primary school science education.

The learners in Ireland and South Africa will present science projects to one another before participating on a science lesson via the live video connection.

Brian Bird of an organisation called Chalkbytes in Ireland established a link with Khanya after visiting South Africa with colleagues involved in science education, Richard Walker and Peter McAlister.

Chalkbytes describes itself as "a virtual global classroom that seeks to use education as a means of encouraging young people to have a global perspective while at the same time learning to build bridges across the divides in society".

"Our partners are Queen's University Belfast and a group of science advisors that formed the "Sharing Science Across Ireland" project - a project aimed at secondary schools."

"Queen's are behind what is called Primary ConneXions, which each year runs a science project for primary schools. The theme this year is ‘Seeing Science’," Mr Bird said.

The international video link-up will begin at the Hurteria Building, Nelson Mandela Metropole University, 127 York Street, George at 11h30, South African time.

For further information, contact the WCED’s Khanya facilitators at the event, Erna Schnautz, cell 082-773-8914, or Lizette Barkhuizen, cell 082-927-8446.