Kiddy Science Fair: Promoting Teaching and Learning of Science

The second edition of the science exhibition was held on Tuesday November 16 at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, Bell Village. A joint venture of the RGSC and the Early Childhood Care and Education Authority, the Kiddy Science Fair aimed at promoting the teaching and learning of science in the early childhood education sector of Mauritius. 

The platform gave Educators the opportunity to showcase their knowhow, innovation and experiences of science subjects in the field of early childhood education (ECE) in Mauritius.

Present at the launching of the fair, the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun highlighted that such initiatives form part of the ministry’s “overall strategy to promote science and technology through, hands-on activities.” During her speech, the Minister addressed a special message to pre-primary educators. “On your shoulders rests the responsibility of igniting love, interest and passion for science in young children.”

Stating that the educators are the main pillars on which the foundation of quality education rests, the Minister pointed out that the Ministry of Education is accelerating the capacity building and professional development programs for the pre-primary sector. “My Ministry and the ECCEA, in collaboration with the MIE, UTM and the Open University, are gradually escalating from the basic proficiency courses to Diploma and Bachelor in ECE,” she announced. 

Moreover, the exhibition aimed to boost the interest and curiosity of children for science through kinaesthetic activities, providing the opportunity to children in their early formative years to grow as discoverers, experimenters and theory builders. In this line, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun  said that “every child is a natural-born scientist.  At a young age, children perceive the world differently, and are very open to exploration. Our role at this stage is to help them nurture this sense of inquisitiveness and curiosity—we have to egg them on to find out more.”

200 pre-primary schools from the private sector participated in this second edition. The displays and projects submitted by those pre-primary schools are a testimony to the impressive spectrum of skills and creativity of Mauritian children. The projects covered all fields of sciences which included, astronomy, environmental problems and health issues. Some of the projects were: Camion Solaire, Life cycle of a butterfly, Environment matters, among others. 

Last year’s first Kiddy Science Fair saw the participation of around 120 pre-primary schools from the four Educational Zones. The first exhibition in fact was a success with about 1,200 pre-school students and about 600 adults visits.