Retrieved from Allafrica News
http://allafrica.com/stories/200205080525.html


African Eye News Service (Nelspruit)
By Sharon Hammond
May 8, 2002 
Posted to the web May 8, 2002 
 

The days where white men dominate the fields of science, engineering and technology in South Africa must come to an end, says Mpumalanga premier Ndaweni Mahlangu.

Black people and especially women need to be encouraged to enter these fields and to create products and designs that are uniquely African, he said at the provincial launch of national science, engineering and technology week in Nelspruit. "It is no secret that many of our people, especially the rural youth and women, were marginalised with regards to how science and technology could improve their lives by empowering them with new skills, leading to financial independence," he said.

He said science, engineering and technology must help resolve South Africa's socio-economic problems such as unemployment, poverty, homelessness and diseases such as HIV/Aids, malaria, cholera and tuberculosis. He praised Afronaut Mark Shuttleworth, for choosing HIV/Aids as one of his research assignments in space. "I believe every one is anxiously waiting to hear about the outcome of his work," said Mahlangu. He said government had a duty to help communities roll back the imbalances of the past and show rural youth and women the wonders of science.

Through the education department, Mahlangu's administration has supplied physical science and biology equipment and chemicals to 300 needy schools. Projects like the Mpumalanga Secondary Science School Initiative aimed to improve maths and science teaching and learning. He said seven schools had been identified as maths and science focus schools and will be equipped with maths and science laboratories, and computer centres.

"We are also issuing bursaries to teachers to improve their teaching skills and knowledge in maths and science through collaboration with Pretoria University and UNISA," he said.

He thanked Telkom for supporting the Mathematics and Science Teacher of the Year Award.