Date: 01/04/2008
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: SA: Mangena: Programme for Technological Careers (Protec) anniversary

Keynote address by Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena at the 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Programme for Technological Careers (Protec) Protea Hotel, Midrand

Programme director
Chief Executive Officer of Programme for Technological Careers (Protec), Mr Chris Mothupi
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Dr Botlhale Tema
Members of the Programme for Technological Careers Board
Staff and Alumni
Ms Ayanda Nakedi of Eskom and other donor representatives present
Educators, learners, parents
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

It is indeed remarkable that the Programme for Technological Careers or Protec has been able to survive and grow from strength to strength after its inception 25 years ago. Many professional bodies and non-governmental organisations folded after the transition to democratic rule. Protec was able to adapt to new circumstances and find a niche in the new order.

As to how the organisation was able to survive through the turbulent times, the founders and staff of Protec who have sustained it to this day, have shared with us their recipe for success and sustainability. More than ever before, we now desperately need tried and tested strategies to apply in our new efforts to improve and sustain effective mathematics and science education.

One of the challenges facing South Africa and our National System of Innovation is the need to build a highly skilled capacity in science, engineering and technology. To achieve this, we need to produce sufficient numbers of school leavers with very good grades in mathematics and science so they could be able to follow university studies in the fields of science, technology, engineering, commerce and management.

Key government initiatives aimed at addressing the need for the skills required to grow and sustain our economy include the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa). Since the need goes beyond the science system to encompass the whole education system, it is incumbent on us to work together to develop sustainable initiatives to secure our future by investing in our youth.

To this end, last year my department produced a comprehensive Youth into Science Strategy, whose main objectives include, among others:

* The promotion of science and technology literacy among the general public, particularly the youth.
* The enrolment of more young people in science, engineering and technology-based careers.

The role of Protec in the implementation of the Youth into Science Strategy can never be overemphasised. Your track record in reaching out to people in the most remote and under-serviced areas of our country will enhance our efforts in rolling out the strategy, and I therefore invite you to become a part of our Youth into Science Strategy family.

As we plan for the future, we need to take into account the current challenges we face. The drop-out rate at school and tertiary levels, especially of black and female students, needs to be arrested urgently. Because blacks and women form the majority, our inability to stabilise their numbers within the entire education value chain does not only adversely affect our efforts to ensure race and gender representivity among our scientists and researchers, but also the quantity and quality of our knowledge workers.

Protec can rightly pride itself on its success in both educator and learner development. But on its own, its impact does very little to alleviate the endemic systemic challenges. It is against this background that I invite Protec to work more closely with my department to provide enrichment programmes in the teaching and learning of mathematics, science and technology education. The Educator Support Programme and National Supplementary Tuition Programme, are two of the initiatives my department is collaborating on with the Department of Education.

Thus, as we work hard to increase participation and performance, we need to link learning to employment opportunities or at least the development of life and entrepreneurial skills. Through interventions such as the Department of Science and Technology/Thuthuka Mathematics and Science Camps and Incentive Scheme, we facilitate the development of skills and link young people who have talent and potential to possibilities for employment and further learning. Protec is welcome to collaborate with my department in these efforts, especially in the identification and nurturing of talent and potential through, among others, supporting science and mathematics Olympiads and competitions.

To raise awareness about these interventions and efforts, it is important for Protec to participate in science awareness campaigns such as our National Science Week, held annually in the month of May. Other campaigns include science festivals and science platform months.

It is now clear, ladies and gentlemen, that these interventions are beginning to yield results. Some of the achievements made thus far include the following:

* Last year in May, South Africa's Expo for Young Scientist's team set a world record by winning first prizes and "best in category" awards at an International Science and Engineering Fair in New Mexico. The youngsters who did us proud were from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State. One of them, Siyabonga Xuza, was the first black South African student to win in this competition.

* Last year, my department funded six educators to attend a summer camp in Canada to enrich their knowledge in modern physics. They will be sharing the knowledge they gained with other South African educators at the South African Association of Science and Technology Educators Conference planned for June this year. We hope to send another team of educators and learners to Canada this year.

* Again last year, 800 learners from around the world showcased their best projects at the Expo Science International in Durban. One hundred and twenty of them were from South Africa. We need to increase this number by including especially black learners.

* Seventeen learners who participated in the Department of Science and Technology/Thuthuka Mathematics and Science Development Camps last year, were awarded Department of Science and Technology (DST) bursaries to further their studies in science-related fields at higher education institutions of their choice.

* Already, ninety-one learners have benefited from the Schools Outreach Programme and 160 learners are recipients of bursaries sponsored by my department under the South African Nuclear Human Asset Research Programme.

* The Science Engineering and Technology Career Booklets we produce continue to be eagerly sought after. These booklets provide learners with information about different science, engineering and technology career fields, what courses to take to enter a particular field and which institutions offer the courses they have chosen. They also provide information on bursaries available for particular fields of study. With the increasing demand for this booklet and the need to broaden its distribution, Protec might well consider becoming part of the distribution network.

* The three Japanese volunteers that my department deployed to science centres to share information on how to make science fun and accessible to all, using cheap materials, is an innovation Protec might consider making available to the educators and learners it interacts with.

Undoubtedly, the reason Protec has been able to survive since 1982 is due to its mettle, will and tenacity. Your record of more than 16 000 students in the science, engineering and technology field speaks volumes. The ex-Protec students among us this evening bear testimony to your gigantic achievements over the past 25 years. You are indeed a beacon of hope.

May I, in closing, commend the women and men who have been the mainstay of this organisation over the years. Your efforts and dedication in the development of our future science landscape are a source of inspiration to us all. I also urge your students to hold on to the vision of Protec and your staff and tutors to continue to guide and support our teachers and learners.

We also encourage many sponsors and donors to heed your call because their generous contributions will enable Protec to double its outputs of the past 25 years within a much shorter space of time.

Government cannot succeed on its own. We need self-driven initiatives by organisations like Protec to help us realise the vision captured in our Youth into Science Strategy. South Africa's success depends on us all.

I wish you everything of the best as you enter the next quarter century of your journey.

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
1 April 2008