STEM Infrastructure Support

Building the Future of STEM Education
Science Teaching and Learning Centres (Science TLCs)
The Science Teaching and Learning Centre (Science TLC) initiative is a flagship infrastructure and education programme developed and implemented by Advancing Knowledge NPC. The project addresses one of the most critical barriers to quality STEM education in South Africa: the lack of functional science laboratories in disadvantaged schools.
In many rural and under-resourced communities, schools were historically built without facilities that support practical science teaching. As a result, science and mathematics are often taught only in theory, limiting learners’ ability to experiment, investigate, and truly understand scientific concepts.
Advancing Knowledge NPC is addressing this challenge through the construction of modern Science Teaching and Learning Centres that transform ordinary classrooms into fully equipped STEM laboratories. These centres provide teachers and learners with dedicated spaces for practical, inquiry-based science education, enabling students to experience science through experimentation, observation, and discovery.
By investing in science laboratories, partners help create lasting educational infrastructure that strengthens STEM teaching for generations of learners.
​Why Science Laboratories Matter
Research consistently shows that hands-on experimentation significantly improves understanding and retention in STEM subjects. When learners can observe scientific principles in action, test hypotheses, and analyse results, science becomes both accessible and inspiring.
Science TLCs enable schools to:
  • Deliver curriculum-aligned practical science education
  • Foster curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
  • Improve learner performance in science and mathematics
  • Support teachers in implementing interactive and inquiry-based teaching methods
  • Inspire learners to pursue careers in science, engineering, technology, and innovation
For many learners in disadvantaged communities, a Science TLC may represent their first opportunity to conduct real scientific experiments.
A Proven Model for STEM Infrastructure
The Science TLC programme converts existing classrooms into state-of-the-art science laboratories aligned with the national CAPS curriculum. Each centre includes:
  • Smart board technology and digital projection systems
  • Specialised learner workstations and demonstration tables
  • Secure chemical storage and laboratory safety infrastructure
  • Complete CAPS-aligned science equipment
  • Teacher training on effective laboratory utilisation
Laboratories are designed according to strict safety and engineering standards, including ventilation systems, secure chemical storage, and regulated laboratory procedures.
Three specialised Science TLC designs have been developed to support different learning environments:
  • Primary School Science TLCs
  • Secondary School Science TLCs
  • Teacher Training Science TLCs
​The Science Teaching and Learning Centre (Science TLC) initiative is transforming science education in disadvantaged schools by providing modern laboratory facilities that enable practical, inquiry-based STEM learning.
Key Impact Highlights
  • 67 Science Teaching and Learning Centres constructed
  • Thousands of learners gaining access to practical science education each year
  • Hundreds of science teachers trained to use laboratory-based teaching methods
  • 60 centres established in the Western Cape
  • 7 centres established in the Eastern Cape
  • 12 additional laboratories planned from April 2026
Through the leadership of Advancing Knowledge NPC and the support of its partners Garden Cities–Archway Foundation and Western Cape Education Department, the project is expanding opportunities for learners to explore science through hands-on discovery.
Each Science TLC becomes a long-term educational asset, serving generations of learners and strengthening the quality of STEM teaching at the school.