The Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) National Fair 2023

The Junior Engineers, Technicians Scientists (JETS) National Fair has become a prestigious and high-profile event in the Zambian school calendar. This year was no different as the 2023 JETS Fair was hosted by Ministry of Education through the Department of The National Science Centre under theme of Promoting Innovation, Entrepreneurship: Accelerating the growth and Development of STEM.

JETS Zambia has been running for an impressive 55 years. The organisation was started by a group of eminent scientists in 1968 during a Zambia Association for Science Education (ZASE) meeting. During this history making meeting, the scientists seized the opportunity to co-ordinate school science clubs through a formal organisation that they decided to call Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS). The idea behind the formation of JETS was to popularise science and mathematics in schools. The JETS mission is, ‘To promote the production and display of high quality scientific and mathematical projects that provide solutions to local problems.’ JETS is all about providing young people with a better foundation in science and mathematics and giving youths an opportunity to learn and apply scientific principles in the design and construction of scientific and technical items.

JICA Zambia office supported the event by providing electronic tablets and other equipment to 15 outstanding schools to promote STEM education.

In his address, the Minister of Education emphasized the importance and necessity of STEM education, the clear positioning of STEM education in the Zambian Government's policy, and appreciated JICA's cooperation over the years.

The ceremony ended with great excitement among the pupils selected from all ten provinces, some crying with joy after receiving the awards, others crying in frustration at missing out on the prize list, and teachers and parents joining in the excitement.