New dates for school science and technology event

A science and technology festival for primary school children, which was postponed amid bus driver shortages last month, has been rescheduled for March.

The annual STEMFest event, which also focuses on engineering and maths, had to be pushed back due to challenges in organising bus transport for about 800 pupils.

The event, run by the Department for Enterprise, will now be held on 26 and 27 March at the Villa Marina.

Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston said the new date allowed "sufficient time to arrange logistical and industry support".

The event, which was first held in 2018, sees organisations showcase exhibits about their sectors to spark students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics subjects.

The department had been "keen to ensure that no year group misses out on attending" and the event was a "highlight in each schools learning calendar", Johnson said.

Last month, he told the House of Keys that transporting Year 4 and 5 pupils from all primary schools to the event had been a "slight step too far" amid the pressure on the bus services at the time.

Primary schools across the island have been informed of the new date, with the majority having confirmed participation, he said.

By "nurturing a love for STEM subjects early on in our students we are helping to shape the innovators and problem solvers of tomorrow", Johnston added.

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