The Trust-Funded Science Education Program of Tait Accredits Ten Additional Teachers for 2024

The primary school science teacher-training programme funded by The Tait Foundation has launched its second cohort, with 10 local schools taking up the opportunity for 2024. The Sir Angus Tait Science Teaching Enrichment Programme (SAT STEP) aims to develop the confidence and competence of primary school teachers in the field of science.

The majority owners of the commercial Tait business, charitable corporations, were entrusted with the responsibility of promoting education. As a result, substantial donations have been made to tertiary institutions, predominantly the University of Canterbury, over the years.

In recent times, however, the trustees of the Tait Foundation have broadened their focus to include early childhood and primary education initiatives that seek to inspire young individuals to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines.

According to SAT STEP facilitator Brigitte Glasson, the objective of the program is to ascertain whether a greater percentage of primary school children will persist in STEM subjects throughout high school, polytechnic, or university and pursue careers similar to those offered by Tait the business, or whether higher-quality instruction from enthusiastic educators will achieve this result. "The initial 2023 cohort is already effecting substantial positive transformations in science opportunities within their respective educational institutions and localities," she asserts.

The Tait Foundation increased the number of teachers supported from eight in 2023 to ten this year, including one from an Ashburton school. During the launch event, Trustee Ron Gillat expressed his and fellow trustee Alan Bruce's elation with the results of the first year and their delight in participating in a program that Bruce hopes will be adopted by other funders nationwide.