Refurbished Ink laboratory aims to boost STEM access for KwaMashu learners
Protec Stem has officially opened a refurbished Science Centre of Excellence at the Ink Learning Centre, restoring a practical laboratory resource for learners from the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) communities. The relaunch, held as part of Protec Stem’s National Science Month programme, is intended to expand hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning for schools that previously had limited practical resources.
The upgraded facility follows an extensive overhaul that transformed the former Ink laboratory into a modern learning environment. Project partners supplied new equipment, specialised apparatus and necessary chemicals to bring the centre up to what Protec Stem describes as world-class standards.
A key contributor to the refurbishment was SLG (Schneider Laboratories Global), which provided investment in laboratory equipment and scientific materials. Protec Stem said continued operational support from Altron and Community Chest Durban will be crucial to sustaining programmes at the Ink branch, ensuring learners from underserved schools can access practical experiments and structured STEM activities.
“Establishing world-class STEM infrastructure in communities like INK is essential to bridging the education gap in South Africa,” said Protec Board chairman Antony Hlwungwane. “The real chemistry won’t happen in the test tubes. It’ll happen when curious minds start mixing with opportunity.”
The Ink laboratory has long been an educational resource for young people in and around KwaMashu. Protec Stem’s relaunch reframes that role, prioritising hands-on work that complements classroom theory. The organisation emphasised that while renovated infrastructure provides the foundation, the centre’s long-term impact will depend on sustained partner support and operational funding.
- Who stands to benefit: learners from INK schools with limited practical science facilities;
- What was provided: modern laboratory equipment, specialised apparatus and chemicals;
- Partners committed: SLG, Altron and Community Chest Durban are named as key supporters.
Protec Stem opened the upgraded centre as part of a national programme to mark Science Month, signalling an intention to use the facility not only for local classes but also as a hub for broader STEM engagement across the community. The organisation said the investment is aimed at inspiring curiosity, encouraging innovation and strengthening practical science abilities among learners who previously had limited access to laboratory work.
Local classrooms with constrained budgets often rely on theory and demonstrations that cannot replicate experimental, hands-on learning. School principals and teachers in the INK region have in recent years highlighted the gap between curriculum expectations for practical work and the reality of resource availability; Protec Stem’s initiative intends to reduce that disparity by offering a functioning laboratory space equipped for real experiments.
| Partner | Role |
|---|---|
| SLG (Schneider Laboratories Global) | Investment in laboratory equipment and scientific apparatus |
| Altron | Ongoing operational funding |
| Community Chest Durban | Ongoing operational funding |
Protec Stem’s statement at the launch framed the centre as more than a building upgrade: it represents a renewed commitment to equitable STEM access in communities that have historically faced resource shortages. The organisation said programmes at the Ink branch will aim to provide meaningful opportunities for learners to engage with practical science and to pursue interests in engineering and innovation.
For KwaMashu residents, the reopened laboratory may offer a tangible boost to science education in the neighbourhood. If operational funding remains steady and partnerships continue, the Ink Centre could become a reliable venue for schools to meet practical curriculum requirements and for learners to experience the kind of hands-on science that educators say is essential to preparing young people for tertiary STEM study and technical careers.
