Programme Director

Officials of the Department of Education

School Principal and Staff

Engen Representatives

Educators, Learners, Parents

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great pleasure to be here today, to celebrate with you the 36th anniversary of the school and Engen's generous donation of computers to the school.

Before I say anything else, I would like to commend Mr Moroaswi, headmaster of Kgwaratlou Secondary, on his successful management of the school, which has even made its mark in extramural activities such as sports and choral music. I believe that in 1984 the school’s academic performance was in the top 10 for what was then Lebowa and, 20 years later, it had a 64,6% university pass rate.  Last year Kgwaratlou had the best university pass rate in the circuit.

This shows the commitment and dedication of the teachers at this school.  You, too, deserve praise for the way that you empower and lead our young people in spite of the daily challenges that you face.  Well done!  I hope other schools will learn from you.

The donation of these computers today will, I believe, strengthen and encourage you all in your resolve to excel.  This school is expected to produce many more top-class school leavers, and we hope that a large number of them will, with the help of the new computers, be motivated to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, helping to make our country internationally competitive in these fields.

My Department has done its bit by having free, open-source software installed in the computers you are getting today. This software will allow learners and educators to use it, change it and improve it to meet their needs, interacting freely with the content to suit the curriculum and situation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the South African government is more than committed to youth development.  In March last year, the Cabinet approved a comprehensive Youth into Science Strategy, the main objectives of which include –

·                    promoting science and technology literacy among the general public, particularly the youth; and

·                    enrolling more young people with talent and potential in science, engineering and technology-based careers.

Six national plans are being implemented through science centres, professional bodies, science councils and NGOs. Two of the initiatives on which my Department is collaborating with the Department of Education are the National Mathematics, Science and Technology Educator Support Programme, and the National Supplementary Tuition Programme.

These programmes aim to enhance participation and performance in maths, technology and science, with the hope that good Grade 12 results will encourage more young people to study science, technology and engineering at tertiary level. To streamline these initiatives, we identify some of the best performers and give them the opportunity to attend DST/Thuthuka camps.

These camps give learners additional support in maths and science, and those who pass these subjects exceptionally well in Grade 12 are offered bursaries to study in any science, engineering or technology field at any higher education institution in South Africa. I hope that some of you at Kgwaratlou will benefit from these programmes.

As we work hard to increase participation and performance in maths and science, we need to link learning to employment opportunities or at least to the development of life and entrepreneurial skills. Through my Department's national plan for the placement and support of successful school leavers and graduates, we facilitate the development of such skills and link young people who have talent and potential with possibilities for employment and further learning.

To make sure learners are aware of our interventions and efforts, Kgwaratlou is encouraged to participate in campaigns such National Science Week, held annually in the second week of May, as well as our science festivals and science platform months.

The success of these initiatives can be shown by mentioning just some of our achievements.

·        In May 2007, South Africa’s Expo for Young Scientists 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.)

·        Also last year, my Department made funds available for six educators to attend a summer camp in Canada to enrich their knowledge of modern physics. This year we paid for three teachers and four learners to go, and the teachers who went last year will be sharing what they have learnt with their colleagues at the South African Association of Science and Technology Educators Conference next month.

·        Eight hundred learners from around the world showcased their best projects at the 2007 Expo Science International in Durban, and we are pleased to say 120 of them were from South Africa. We need to work on increasing this number, as well as the proportion of learners coming from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

·        Twelve learners who attended the Thuthuka mathematics and science development camps last year (six boys and six girls) passed these subjects in Grade 12 and were awarded bursaries by my Department to further their studies in science-related fields.

·        This year 49 students will be completing their degrees through the DST-funded South African Nuclear Asset and Research Programme. These include –

o                               BScs in Chemical, Civil, Mechanical and Materials Engineering;

o                               BSc Honours degrees in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and Chemistry; and

o                               MScs and PhDs in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, and Carbon Technology.

The career booklets that we produce continue to be eagerly received. These booklets provide learners with information about different science, engineering and technology fields, what courses to take to enter a particular field, and which institutions offer the courses they have chosen. The booklets also provide information on bursaries available for particular fields of study. I will make a few copies available for your school's library today.

My Department has done something new by deploying three Japanese volunteers at various science centres to share information with the educators and learners that visit the centres about making science fun and accessible to all, using cheap materials.

Unfortunately, the science centres are not always close enough to learners, particularly those in disadvantaged communities.  My Department has therefore developed a 25-year plan to have a science centre in each and every municipality.  We are discussing our plan with municipalities and stakeholders, and we hope that one of the first districts to get its own centre will be yours.

The success of Kgwaratlou Secondary School is an inspiration to other schools and young people. Our country needs people with mathematics and science skills, and this school's academic record shows that you are producing what South Africa needs.

Teachers, I commend your efforts in the development of skilled young men and women to ensure the future prosperity of our country.

Students, you need to dedicate yourselves to your studies to ensure the best for your future. Make good use of the opportunities that the government and companies like Engen are offering you.

The government cannot succeed on its own. Timely contributions from the private sector could easily double the outputs of the past 36 years in only a year or two. We need businesses like Engen to help us realise the vision captured in our Youth into Science Strategy. Our success is yours, and your success is ours.

I wish you all everything of the best.

Thank you.