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Date : 12/06/2004
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
Title: M Mangena: Opening of Benoni Primary School Computer Centre


ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MR MOSIBUDI MANGENA, AT THE OPENING OF THE COMPUTER CENTRE OF BENONI PRIMARY SCHOOL, 12 June 2004

Deputy Minister for Safety and Security, Ms Susan Shabangu
Member of Parliament, Dr Cachalia
Mayoral Representative, Mr Ronnie Kuta
Gauteng Commissioner for Safety and Security, Mr Naidoo and Commissioner for East Rand Police, Mr de Lange
Ms J Mofokeng, Gauteng: Head of Safety and Security
District Manager, Mr Dennis Molaba
Chairperson of the School Governing Body, Dr DL Moodley
Management and members of staff of Benoni Primary School
Parents, Learners, Sponsors
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

My relationship with Benoni Primary School began three years ago when I visited this area as a newly appointed Deputy Minister of Education. Once again today I am here to share with you in your joy and pride at the opening ceremony of the school's refurbished and improved computer laboratory. This new development demonstrates the school's understanding of the need to integrate science and technology in education. This is the aim of the e-Education White Paper, which proposes that all our schools should have Internet connectivity by 2013 to facilitate teaching, learning and the management of schools.

The Gauteng Department of Education is ahead of the other provinces as it has began to implement some of the strategies elucidated in the e-Education White Paper, through its well known Gauteng Online project. If such an initiative could be replicated and implemented with similar determination by other provinces, the ideals espoused in the e-Education White Paper will be achieved within the set timeframes, even among the poor and rural schools.

I understand that Benoni Primary has had a computer room since 1996, which is indicative of the visionary and proactive leadership that the school has. It is also refreshing to come across educators and managers who are readily responsive to technological advancements, and always ready to harness these for the benefit of their learners and communities. This is particularly true for this school, which I understand has more than a thousand learners of all races, and a staff complement of around thirty-five. The expansion of the computer facilities now available to all these people will be highly beneficial.

With this new computer centre, your school will now be able to access the national educational portal built by the Department of Education. Such access will enable the school to 'download' policies, materials and guidelines that are needed by both educators and learners during this period of curriculum change. It will also enable the learners to enhance their learning experience through the use of computers and hopefully achieve maximum enjoyment of their studies as well.

The opening of the computer centre at this school, ladies and gentlemen, should not be seen as an end in itself but as an important milestone in our journey to making science and technology accessible to all. The Department of Science and Technology has for the past ten years been involved in efforts to promote science literacy and public understanding, awareness and appreciation of science in South Africa. In the past two years, since the adoption of the National Research and Development Strategy by Cabinet, the efforts of the Department of Science and Technology in this regard have had a special emphasis on the youth, where the objective has been to increase the pool of young learners pursuing careers in science. You will agree with me that this is absolutely vital for the future prosperity of our country as we seek to deepen our democracy.

As indicated by our State President in his second State of the Nation address in May, government is making a number of investments in science and technology. In astronomy and space sciences and other science platforms, for example, the Department of Science and Technology, will in the current financial year, be investing about R23 million and this will go up to R50 million in three years time.

We need therefore to work collectively as government, parents and educators to ensure that South Africa has a solid base of human resources trained at the highest scientific and technological levels, to contribute towards socio-economic development and improvement of the quality of life for all. Young people such as you, here at Benoni Primary School, will benefit from these investments.

Progress has already been made with regard to promoting science literacy and deepening science knowledge and skills among our youth. Since 2000, the Department of Science and Technology has involved no less than 460 000 learners, parents and members of the public who have benefited from participating in its National Science Week activities that are held in the month of May each year.

We hope that your school has also participated in the National Science Week activities. We must use these activities to identify and nurture science talent and potential among our youth as that is the surest way of building a sustainable science and technology future.

To achieve this goal, we need to work hand-in-glove with the Department of Education. Already the Departments of Science and Technology, and Education have begun drafting a collaborative plan to consolidate, deepen and widen the implementation of the National Strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. Such a partnership will use the resources at the disposal of the two Departments for the benefit of all; especially those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. We shall also seek to increase participation by young girls and women in these science and technology areas, which were previously mistakenly believed to be suitable only for boys.

We envisage, in the near future, supporting the development of an effective and vibrant network of science centres, which amongst others, will ensure that the benefits of the National Science Week activities are available to all throughout the whole year. We hope that in this manner, learners will have access to mobile laboratories, equipment and apparatuses throughout the year. Learners will also have opportunities to experience the fun of science through the interactive displays that would be available at these centres, and in the process learn science in an entirely new manner. In this way, we will be able to make science more practical and accessible, and less abstract. Even those who travel by bus from distant townships such as Soweto, Actonville, Daveyton, Wattville, and the rural areas of our country stand to benefit from mobile laboratories and science centres.

The science centres have a variety of added advantages in that they will become focal points at which role models in the fields of science and technology would interact with our youth. We believe that role modelling and mentorship are powerful means of encouraging young people to follow science and technology based careers. We have many role models at our disposal in our country such as Professor Marwala, who at 32, is described by a Sunday newspaper as one who "has done remarkably well for a rural youngster from the heartland of Limpopo Province".

The story of Professor Marwala gives us hope. His phenomenal story caught the headlines because it demonstrates triumph of will over adversity. But we need more than the will and concerted effort to make it in the field of science and technology. We also need support and commitment of resources especially in disadvantaged areas.

Young people must always remember - hard work is the key to success. In recognition of his work in the field of dynamic systems and artificial intelligence, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala won the Tribute Achievers Award, an award that was won by Mark Shuttleworth - the first African in space - in 2002. Tshilidzi also won National Science and Technology Forum awards and the National Research Foundation's President's Award in 2004.

Tshilidzi Marwala and Mark Shuttleworth's achievements demonstrate the potential in our youth of all races to overcome historical divides and excel in disciplines that were shelved for the privileged few.

The opening of the computer centre today is one way of exciting and motivating young minds to emulate the Marwalas and Shuttleworths of this world. Through this centre, the school will connect with all other schools in the province and the world. For this achievement we must thank the Gauteng Department of Education. I wish you luck in your endeavours to bridge the digital divide. I hope the young people who come through this school will spend many happy hours learning and entertaining themselves with these computers.

Ke a leboga.

Issued by: Ministry of Science and Technology
12 June 2004

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