Date: 28/02/05
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Opening of Ispat Iscor Scitech 2005
Keynote address by the Minister of Science and Technology, The Honourable Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the official opening of Ispat Iscor Scitech 2005, Tshwane Events Centre, Pretoria
28 February 2005
Programme Director, Educators, Learners, Members of the media, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
The importance of promoting interest about science and technology among our youth, and striving towards the development of a critical mass of the human capital in the fields of mathematics, science and technology can hardly be over-emphasised. It is indeed true that there exists a direct correlation between a nation's wealth and its scientific and technological capacity.
Given the rate at which countries across the globe are deriving benefits from the knowledge economy, South Africa's focus to develop a scientific and technological powerhouse should be reinforced and strengthened by every possible means. To survive we must generate new knowledge and develop competitive technologies to exploit our intellectual and natural assets to meet national and global market demands. But the pace at which we are able to achieve this will depend critically on our human resources. For us to transform our assets into economic value, we must first develop a sufficiently large pool of well trained scientists, technologists and engineers that is capable of responding to national and international market needs.
In order to obtain the critical mass that our science system so desperately needs, it is imperative that there be a collective and concerted national effort to actively promote science and technology as a means of improving living standards and contributing to wealth creation. One of the most effective means of attaining this critical mass is through initiatives aimed at enthusing our youth about Science and Technology, especially Africans and females.
The disparities in skills and competencies, which result in the reproduction of inherited skewed racial, ethnic and gender hierarchies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are well known. It is against this background that Government adopted interventions such as the National Human Resource Development Strategy, the National Research and Development Strategy, and the National Strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education.
Even as we implement these strategies, recent studies have revealed some very disturbing findings. Results of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study show that South Africa has performed the worst of 50 countries tested for Grade 8 level mathematics and science proficiency. These results still reflect South African inequalities. Therefore, the future of science and technology will depend on the extent to which the youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrol and graduate in science, engineering, mathematics and technology.
Initiatives such as this one that target the youth must ensure that individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are given due priority, so that the potential to increase participation and performance of all youth in mathematics and science is enhanced. From a large and representative pool of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates, lies our nation's future economic prosperity.
The Department of Science and Technology is dedicated to enhancing learner participation and performance in mathematics and science, promoting science literacy, and identifying and nurturing talent and potential amongst the youth. This is being achieved through, among others, the Department's annual National Science Week, the establishment of a Network of Science Centres and our support for programmes similar to this one.
The National Science Week is my department's annual countrywide celebration of science. Science-based activities involving role players are conducted during the same week in all the nine provinces. This year it will be held between the 7th and 14th May under the theme
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Opening of Ispat Iscor Scitech 2005
Keynote address by the Minister of Science and Technology, The Honourable Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the official opening of Ispat Iscor Scitech 2005, Tshwane Events Centre, Pretoria
28 February 2005
Programme Director, Educators, Learners, Members of the media, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
The importance of promoting interest about science and technology among our youth, and striving towards the development of a critical mass of the human capital in the fields of mathematics, science and technology can hardly be over-emphasised. It is indeed true that there exists a direct correlation between a nation's wealth and its scientific and technological capacity.
Given the rate at which countries across the globe are deriving benefits from the knowledge economy, South Africa's focus to develop a scientific and technological powerhouse should be reinforced and strengthened by every possible means. To survive we must generate new knowledge and develop competitive technologies to exploit our intellectual and natural assets to meet national and global market demands. But the pace at which we are able to achieve this will depend critically on our human resources. For us to transform our assets into economic value, we must first develop a sufficiently large pool of well trained scientists, technologists and engineers that is capable of responding to national and international market needs.
In order to obtain the critical mass that our science system so desperately needs, it is imperative that there be a collective and concerted national effort to actively promote science and technology as a means of improving living standards and contributing to wealth creation. One of the most effective means of attaining this critical mass is through initiatives aimed at enthusing our youth about Science and Technology, especially Africans and females.
The disparities in skills and competencies, which result in the reproduction of inherited skewed racial, ethnic and gender hierarchies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are well known. It is against this background that Government adopted interventions such as the National Human Resource Development Strategy, the National Research and Development Strategy, and the National Strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education.
Even as we implement these strategies, recent studies have revealed some very disturbing findings. Results of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study show that South Africa has performed the worst of 50 countries tested for Grade 8 level mathematics and science proficiency. These results still reflect South African inequalities. Therefore, the future of science and technology will depend on the extent to which the youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrol and graduate in science, engineering, mathematics and technology.
Initiatives such as this one that target the youth must ensure that individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are given due priority, so that the potential to increase participation and performance of all youth in mathematics and science is enhanced. From a large and representative pool of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates, lies our nation's future economic prosperity.
The Department of Science and Technology is dedicated to enhancing learner participation and performance in mathematics and science, promoting science literacy, and identifying and nurturing talent and potential amongst the youth. This is being achieved through, among others, the Department's annual National Science Week, the establishment of a Network of Science Centres and our support for programmes similar to this one.
The National Science Week is my department's annual countrywide celebration of science. Science-based activities involving role players are conducted during the same week in all the nine provinces. This year it will be held between the 7th and 14th May under the theme
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