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Minister of Science and Technology Launches National Youth Camps Project Aimed at Identifying and Nurturing Local Science, Maths and Accounting Skills

6 December 2005

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena today officially launched the DST/Thuthuka Maths and Science Development Camps project at – Emperor’s Palace, Gauteng. This gives concrete expression to a joint initiative between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

The DST/Thuthuka Maths and Science Development Camps project aims to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds with entry into accountancy, science, engineering, mathematics and technology professions. This builds on an existing SAICA youth camps project which has been expanded to include science. SAICA has been running accountancy and mathematics camps for the past 18 years which have proved to be a huge success.

The DST/Thuthuka project will be rolled out in six provinces including the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu, Limpopo, Western Cape and the Free State. The DST will invest more than R25 million towards this five year project.

100 Grade 11 & 12 learners will now be selected to attend development camps to be better placed towards furthering their studies in accountancy, science, maths, technology and engineering related fields. Learners will be selected in conjunction with provincial Department of Education officials. Selected learners will be required to have a minimum C symbol in maths on higher grade or an A or B symbol in maths at standard grade level.

The objectives of the DST/Thuthuka Youth Camps project are:

• To encourage learners to obtain better marks by improving their aptitude in mathematics, accounting, science and English,
• To encourage more learners to study mathematics, science and English,
• To improve the skills of the educators and to build capacity in the teaching of mathematics, science, accounting and English
• To promote engineering, science, technology and accountancy professions as careers of choice
• To offer the top 100 learners bursaries to study science, engineering or commerce at higher learning institutions; and
• To offer career coaching and life skills.

A principal aim of the DST/Thuthuka Camps is to contribute towards changing the demographics of membership in maths, science and accounting professions to reflect the country’s population demographics.

The Department of Education, as well as Accounting and Engineering Institutions all play a key role in this project. The Department of Education will provide educators who will offer tuition on work that has already been covered at school, while the Accounting and Engineering institutions will offer motivational and career coaching support.

For more information contact the Department of Science and Technology:
Ministry	Nelvis Qekema (082 571 2571)
Communications	Kristin Klose (082 902 9503) Nthabi Maoela (073 648 2876) Zama Mthethwa (083 306 0681)