Date: 27/07/2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Launch of ECD/Foundation Phase Science and Technology Week and Certificate Awards
Address by Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the launch of the ECD/Foundation Phase Science and Technology Week, and Certificate Awards, Alexandra
Director of Ceremonies
Mr M Sieff, National Director of ORT SA
Ms A Rosenberg, Science and Technology Coordinator for ORT South Africa
Ms M Mampane, Science and Technology
Facilitator for ORT South Africa
Mr JB Matabane, Senior Manager of Johannesburg East District, and Alexandra
Renewal Convener for Education
Ms J Horner, ECD/Foundation Phase section of the project in the District
Educators,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
This event, which honours and recognises the efforts of those who are engaged in stimulating young people’s curiosity to have an enduring passion for science and technology, typifies programmes which support our attempts to build a new generation of scientists, engineers and technologists required to enhance the economic growth and wealth of South Africa.
We congratulate the Johannesburg East District, together with the Alexandra Renewal project, for the initiatives they are undertaking to build a solid foundation for the grasp of science and technology within the Alexandra community. The contribution of science and technology to our socio-economic development cannot be over-emphasised. We need to nurture our youth’s creativity and innovativeness as early as possible in their lives.
We also commend the educators and District officials who, against all odds, made it to the end of the course. The efforts and sacrifices made by each of you through the entire training programme will certainly bear fruit. All you have to do now is to inspire your learners to reach for greater heights. In your classrooms, while you emphasise the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in our daily lives, please ensure that you demystify these subjects by assisting learners to realise that everyone of them is not only capable of taking and passing mathematics and science, but has also the potential of becoming a future researcher and innovator.
Currently, our human resources in science and technology are not being developed and renewed at a rate that matches our transformation requirements and goals.
At the same time, the high tech industry and modern socio-economic requirements have increased the demands on the type of learner we should produce in order to realise the vision of an African century. A collective and concerted effort by various actors such as government, the private sector, parents and teachers is important if we are to develop the critical mass of the required human capital.
As part of the our commitment to developing South Africa’s youth, and to realise the goals of the National Strategy for Research and Development, and the National Strategy on Learner Attainment in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, a collaborative and concerted approach is required. The collaboration agreement signed by the Departments of Science and Technology, and Education provides the framework that will be used to exploit the resources at the disposal of our respective departments for the benefit of all learners, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The two departments are demonstrating how collaboration can be used to achieve our objectives by minimising duplication and increasing the synergistic impact. Allow me to mention a few examples. The National Science Week, whose aims include promotion of science literacy and increased youth participation in science, mathematics, technology and engineering is now fully supported by the provincial departments of education.
The provincial departments of education have also played a positive role in distributing the booklet on careers in science, engineering and technology to schools, organisations and individuals.
The Department of Science and Technology is finalising a plan to implement supplementary tuition programmes. We hope this plan will contribute towards your efforts to improve participation and performance in the early childhood development and foundation phases.
We also invite you to support and participate in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, which is supported by my department. The Departments of Science and Technology and Education have agreed on a plan to ensure a greater representation of learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Expo. We invite you to encourage your schools to support and participate in this project. This initiative encourages “young scientists” to develop their innovative skills at an early age. There is no better way of building future scientists than identifying them early, and nurturing them through their schooling career through projects such as expos and Olympiads.
South Africa has joined the international community in celebrating the International Year of Physics. We encourage you to exploit this opportunity by involving our youth in science and technology activities such as science expos, clubs, fairs and supplementary tuition.
We believe that South Africa’s youth is the nucleus of a plan to transform our country. You, the educators, are eminently placed to provide the ways and means by which our children can participate in and contribute meaningfully to the society of the future.
It is important to ensure that all our learners, regardless of age, sex, culture or ethnic background, disabilities, aspirations, or lack of interest or motivation in STEM, have the opportunity to attain high levels of scientific literacy. Given the opportunity, all learners have the potential of achieving an understanding of science and technology.
ORT South Africa was asked to train and support the Foundation Phase educators in science and technology. This was done with an aim of providing the learners, who will pass through the hands of these teachers, with the necessary grounding in these subjects. We would like to thank them for their efforts and contribution towards this important intervention.
The Foundation Phase Science and Technology week in Alexandra provides every educator and learner an opportunity to be exposed to the contribution of science and technology to our daily lives. We hope that through this, learners will develop an interest that will drive them to pursue careers in science and technology. We urge all educators present here today to appreciate the vantage position they occupy to influence the future of your learners and our country. The changing educational landscape should be perceived as a necessary challenge for developing a better and more effective science and technology system.
Strive to eradicate the myth that science, technology and mathematics are for the elite few. Where the availability of resources constrains you, take advantage of those provided to you by my department at the Science Centres. Ensure that your learners participate in activities such as the National Science Week, Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, SciTech and Sasol SciFest, DST/Thuthuka Maths and Science Development Camps, to name just a few.
To all those who will be receiving awards, we wish you all the best.
It is now my pleasure to launch the ECD/Foundation Phase Science and Technology Week.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
27 July 2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Launch of ECD/Foundation Phase Science and Technology Week and Certificate Awards
Address by Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the launch of the ECD/Foundation Phase Science and Technology Week, and Certificate Awards, Alexandra
Director of Ceremonies
Mr M Sieff, National Director of ORT SA
Ms A Rosenberg, Science and Technology Coordinator for ORT South Africa
Ms M Mampane, Science and Technology
Facilitator for ORT South Africa
Mr JB Matabane, Senior Manager of Johannesburg East District, and Alexandra
Renewal Convener for Education
Ms J Horner, ECD/Foundation Phase section of the project in the District
Educators,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
This event, which honours and recognises the efforts of those who are engaged in stimulating young people’s curiosity to have an enduring passion for science and technology, typifies programmes which support our attempts to build a new generation of scientists, engineers and technologists required to enhance the economic growth and wealth of South Africa.
We congratulate the Johannesburg East District, together with the Alexandra Renewal project, for the initiatives they are undertaking to build a solid foundation for the grasp of science and technology within the Alexandra community. The contribution of science and technology to our socio-economic development cannot be over-emphasised. We need to nurture our youth’s creativity and innovativeness as early as possible in their lives.
We also commend the educators and District officials who, against all odds, made it to the end of the course. The efforts and sacrifices made by each of you through the entire training programme will certainly bear fruit. All you have to do now is to inspire your learners to reach for greater heights. In your classrooms, while you emphasise the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in our daily lives, please ensure that you demystify these subjects by assisting learners to realise that everyone of them is not only capable of taking and passing mathematics and science, but has also the potential of becoming a future researcher and innovator.
Currently, our human resources in science and technology are not being developed and renewed at a rate that matches our transformation requirements and goals.
At the same time, the high tech industry and modern socio-economic requirements have increased the demands on the type of learner we should produce in order to realise the vision of an African century. A collective and concerted effort by various actors such as government, the private sector, parents and teachers is important if we are to develop the critical mass of the required human capital.
As part of the our commitment to developing South Africa’s youth, and to realise the goals of the National Strategy for Research and Development, and the National Strategy on Learner Attainment in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, a collaborative and concerted approach is required. The collaboration agreement signed by the Departments of Science and Technology, and Education provides the framework that will be used to exploit the resources at the disposal of our respective departments for the benefit of all learners, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The two departments are demonstrating how collaboration can be used to achieve our objectives by minimising duplication and increasing the synergistic impact. Allow me to mention a few examples. The National Science Week, whose aims include promotion of science literacy and increased youth participation in science, mathematics, technology and engineering is now fully supported by the provincial departments of education.
The provincial departments of education have also played a positive role in distributing the booklet on careers in science, engineering and technology to schools, organisations and individuals.
The Department of Science and Technology is finalising a plan to implement supplementary tuition programmes. We hope this plan will contribute towards your efforts to improve participation and performance in the early childhood development and foundation phases.
We also invite you to support and participate in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, which is supported by my department. The Departments of Science and Technology and Education have agreed on a plan to ensure a greater representation of learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Expo. We invite you to encourage your schools to support and participate in this project. This initiative encourages “young scientists” to develop their innovative skills at an early age. There is no better way of building future scientists than identifying them early, and nurturing them through their schooling career through projects such as expos and Olympiads.
South Africa has joined the international community in celebrating the International Year of Physics. We encourage you to exploit this opportunity by involving our youth in science and technology activities such as science expos, clubs, fairs and supplementary tuition.
We believe that South Africa’s youth is the nucleus of a plan to transform our country. You, the educators, are eminently placed to provide the ways and means by which our children can participate in and contribute meaningfully to the society of the future.
It is important to ensure that all our learners, regardless of age, sex, culture or ethnic background, disabilities, aspirations, or lack of interest or motivation in STEM, have the opportunity to attain high levels of scientific literacy. Given the opportunity, all learners have the potential of achieving an understanding of science and technology.
ORT South Africa was asked to train and support the Foundation Phase educators in science and technology. This was done with an aim of providing the learners, who will pass through the hands of these teachers, with the necessary grounding in these subjects. We would like to thank them for their efforts and contribution towards this important intervention.
The Foundation Phase Science and Technology week in Alexandra provides every educator and learner an opportunity to be exposed to the contribution of science and technology to our daily lives. We hope that through this, learners will develop an interest that will drive them to pursue careers in science and technology. We urge all educators present here today to appreciate the vantage position they occupy to influence the future of your learners and our country. The changing educational landscape should be perceived as a necessary challenge for developing a better and more effective science and technology system.
Strive to eradicate the myth that science, technology and mathematics are for the elite few. Where the availability of resources constrains you, take advantage of those provided to you by my department at the Science Centres. Ensure that your learners participate in activities such as the National Science Week, Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, SciTech and Sasol SciFest, DST/Thuthuka Maths and Science Development Camps, to name just a few.
To all those who will be receiving awards, we wish you all the best.
It is now my pleasure to launch the ECD/Foundation Phase Science and Technology Week.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
27 July 2005
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