4 August 2000
The Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar will be launching a computer donation project, named "Transporting Technology to Schools Project" in a rural Phalatsi Lenyai Middle School in Winterveld North of Pretoria. The project, in partnership with Microsoft SA, Datavia, Ariel Technologies, Ithuteng Quality Training and ED.NET and the Department of Transport will see more than 1200 computers transported to rural and previously disadvantaged schools around the country.
The project with a theme "With Technology ordinary lives will become extra ordinary" will continue for a period of 8 months in other provinces after the symbolic launch today. Schools which will benefit from the project were identified by the Department of Education.
The project will improve the administration and the professional running of schools and afford for the first time pupils the opportunity to have access to computers. In his address at the launch Minister Omar said, "my dream is to see technology in our schools addressing the needs of ordinary people and improving their daily lives and solving a number of challenges they face daily".
He also said that the 21st Century presented new challenges and we have to equip learners accordingly to deal with those challenges. "Our schools remain special place in the history of the struggle against apartheid in general and fight against Bantu Education in particular", said Omar.
When speaking about the culture of learning, the Minister said ‘the learners and educators deserved the best’. "Surely as a community, as children, as teachers, as parents, we are not asking for too much. We are asking us to return to the basics and enhance the culture of learning and the culture of teaching. We are asking to starting our schools on time, we are asking our teachers to prepare for their lessons and attend their classes, we need to ensure that schools are safe from criminals and that those who are violent in word and deed are stopped in their tracks and ensure that our schools produce the best results", said the Minister.
The Minister also spoke about the impact of HIV/AIDS in schools and the importance of education in fighting poverty. He would be accompanied by all his Senior Managers, and all partners in this great course.
ISSUED BY
Mike Mabasa
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Transport
Pretoria
Tel: 083 680 7048