Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Professor Blade Nzimande pointed out on Tuesday that as the Department of Basic Education (DBE) increases its focus on early childhood development (ECD), it would be important to think of ways to incorporate the Science, Technology and Innovation Department in helping to introduce children to maths and science as part of ECD.

Nzimande was speaking during an education lekgotla hosted by the DBE, in Boksburg, where he expressed interest in providing enabling research support, especially as it relates to children’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities in ECD.

He urged the exposure of children to mathematics and science activities at an early age.

Last week, after Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube released the 2025 Matric results, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education noted low uptake and throughput in STEM subjects. It warned that this limited the country’s drive towards economic growth, technological development and global competitiveness.

Gwarube expressed a similar concern by stating that “only 34% of candidates wrote Mathematics, while most wrote Mathematical Literacy”.

Nzimande highlighted that this wais concerning as Mathematics was an “important gateway subject”.

He said no country could hope to achieve its development goals if it failed to invest in the development of its science, technology, and innovation capabilities.

Nzimande pointed to the Decadal Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation (2022-2032), advocating for a future-proof education.

“…by this, we do not mean the kind of education that only anticipates the future, but also one that shapes it.

“In the context of our time, such an education would focus on digital and future skills for young people, with an emphasis on emerging domains such as artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and the development of digital solutions,” he explained.

He said this focus must be complemented by soft and cognitive skills such as communication, teamwork, resilience, problem-solving, as well as creative and critical thinking.

Classroom-based instruction must be paired with extracurricular activities that provide learners with a platform to put into practice the core scientific principles from the classroom in problem-solving scenarios, he added.

Nzimande said for a future-proof education system, government must focus on teacher development and address resource disparities.

He highlighted that coordination and partnerships were essential in improving the country’s education system and urged the mobilisation of alumni, which he said would help influence learners.

“One of the things I found is that the former students of some of our schools, some who are very influential or prominent people in society, do not always go back to support their former schools. We need to change this,” he stated.

Nzimande said inequality was one of the biggest obstacles, noting that a resilient and responsive education system could only be achieved through an equal society.