Opening Address by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the 14th Southern African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (SAARMSTE)

Date:
2006-01-09 11:35

Venue:
Pretoria

Type:
Minister

IsArchived:
True

Content:

Opening Address by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the 14th Southern African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (SAARMSTE)

9 January 2006

Venue: Pretoria

Programme Director,
The President of SAARMSTE,
The Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof J D Jansen,
International and Regional representatives,
The Organising committee,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Science and technology are undisputed key tools for the delivery of economic growth targets. In response to this imperative, the Department of Science & Technology was mandated to establish and drive a sound science system in South Africa. We now have a vibrant National System of Innovation, and a variety of national strategies and technology roadmaps for delivering cutting-edge science in support of key industry sectors. We have a broad range of international partnerships and agreements to keep abreast of global developments; we have established centres of excellence, we have world class scientists and research institutions; and we have a growing R&D budget.

There is no doubt, therefore, that we have most of the fundamentals in place to ensure a trajectory for a world class economy. But we can never be complacent in a field which is based on continual development and discovery, and the need to renew at optimal rates, the required human capital to satisfy the demand and supply to stay at the cutting edge of international developments. We also need to realise that a system is only as good as the people that manage it, and the people that use and access it. A system that is based on international best practice, but is not firmly rooted in its own society can become a recipe for disaster.

I do not at all imply that our science system is ill-founded. I only want to underline that it is crucial to know and understand our people, our society, our context, and to ensure our system is tailored to meet the needs of our people. It is in view of this reality that this conference becomes critically important.

While some basic principles of education may be similar for Africa and the developed world, resource constraints, teacher social status, education and commitment, teaching environments, tools and aids, amongst a host of others, are often very different, particularly in poor and rural settings. By bringing together local, regional and international experts, this conference must attempt to meld together international best practices with local contexts, to ensure that we understand and can adapt policy toward the establishment of an effective mathematics, science and technology education. It is only through an appropriately skilled and educated youth that we can truly ensure that our system takes our region to a prosperous future.

Measures to strengthen the cooperation between the Departments of Science and Technology and Education to realise the objectives of the National Strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education was approved by Cabinet in 2004 as one of the means of enhancing the development of high-level skills capacity.

In response to this initiative, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), in partnership with the Department of Education, led a National Consultative Conference on Youth Into Science Strategy in October last year. The strategy draws on the lessons learnt from the implementation of the Human Resource Development Strategy of the Department of Education, and the National Research and Development Strategy of the DST. The Youth Into Science Strategy seeks to address the skills gap by supporting all efforts to improve the development of high-level skills among our young people.

The key elements of the Youth into Science Strategy are:

Science Literacy: We must enhance science literacy among our youth in particular and the public in general.
Participation and Performance: We must strive to increase enrolments and performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Talent and Potential: We need to identify and nurture STEM talent and potential among our youth.
Career Education: Our system must provide quality career education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and
Network of Science Centres: we must establish a capable Network of Science Centres to deliver STEM programmes and interventions nationally and regionally.

leverage innovation in universities and to implement the development of science and related skills;
to expand transformation initiatives through equity and career growth opportunities for designated groups;
to enable young scientists and professionals to develop world class experience in strategic and applied research in university and science council environments, thereby strengthen their skills and knowledge bases in order to improve their prospects of permanent employment within the national system of innovation;
to attract young scientists and professionals of the highest calibre, in order to complement the senior researchers’ influence on innovation through research; and finally
to support young scientists and professionals in strategic, basic and applied research with the intention to promote innovation.

Department: Science and Technology, South Africa

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