Speech by the Deputy Minister of the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Hon. Prof. Hlengiwe Mkhize on the Occasion of The Handover of a Computer Laboratory at Orbit TVET College – Mankwe Campus in Mogwase, North West Province
Honourable Mayor of Moses Kotane Local Municipality, Cllr Mrs. Fetsang Mokati-Thebe
Honourable Speaker of Moses Kotane Local Municipality, Cllr Mr. Raleshole Diale
Mr. Tsietsi Mawelela, DDG – Office of the Premier
The College Principal, Mrs. Maryna Marais
The Campus Manager, Mr. Zakes Nkomo
Our Sponsors
Our Enthusiastic Youth
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning
Introduction
It is truly an honour to be here at Orbit TVET College to handover this brand new computer laboratory. To us this is a historic visit because a few years ago a child from a rural area such as Mogwase will only touch a computer when they have passed their secondary schooling and are at tertiary level. At that stage it might even be late for them to start with basic computer classes in order to be at par with fellow students from big cities.
Today's visit is particularly important because it's about transforming the landscape of education, not only looking at the number of children but the quality of education and above everything else the educational content.
In this democratic government a rural child is expected to get quality education like any other child in big cities. A child of an ordinary farm worker now has the opportunity to become a doctor, a scientist, an engineer or a powerful economist.
The Legacy of Moses Kotane
It is an honour also to be in a local municipality named after one of our prolific struggle icons, Moses Kotane. It becomes very significant that as we garner momentum towards the celebration of January 08th we also celebrate the legacy left to us by our struggle icons such as Moses Kotane.
We know that Moses Kotane was born in Tamposstad, Transvaal which is now North West in 1905. Kotane was sent to Moscow to study Marxism-Leninism at the International Lenin School and returned to South Africa in 1933. He advanced through the SACP until the point where he became the party`s general secretary in 1939.
In Moses Kotane, the South African liberation movement has had no better or more original pioneer. He, above all, symbolised the all-round revolutionary whose passion for liberation is combined with a scholarly approach to our revolution.
Matric 2015 results
We would like to congratulate matric leaners who have emerged victorious by successfully passing their grade 12. The province has done exceptionally well with a percentage of 81.5% falling within the top five best performing provinces. Our contribution here today endeavours to create an environment whereby we would not only talk about percentages but about quality educational outcomes.
These electronic equipments that we are bringing forth to the college and the community are tools which should prepare our youth for the future jobs because with ICTs the future is unknown.
The importance of education and being educated has increased over the years, especially during this heightened time of digital revolution. The use of technology is at the centre of this revolution, creating room for new forms of delivery of educational content and the accompanying teaching aids.
The Challenge of Mathematics and Science Education
The one aspect that still stands as a challenge to us as government, the community and the learners is Maths and Science education. The usage of ICTs in education is one of the mechanisms which we can use to improve the situation. The use of technology improves one’s capacity to be innovative and able to solve problems. A mathematical problem can be solved elsewhere in the world and be explained to a student here in Mabele a Podi as if the instructor was sitting with the student right here.
South Africa Connect Policy
In implementing the National Broadband Policy, the priority is to roll-out broadband to educational and other government institutions especially in the poorest of the poor districts. During the 2015 State of the Nation Address, our honourable President, Jacob Zuma was unambiguous when he said that priority for broadband rollout must be given to rural areas. We were specifically given the poorest districts in all our provinces including Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District here in the North West Province.
Economic Benefits of Broadband Roll-out
The computer laboratory we are opening today is not only meant to improve the quality of education but also to increase opportunities for acquiring critical skills for the 21st century jobs.
There is increasing evidence of linkages between investment in electronic communications infrastructure and improvements in the economy. Though broadband impact studies vary on the exact contribution made to economic growth, there is enough evidence to support claims that increases in broadband penetration correlate with increases in GDP, new jobs, broadening of educational opportunities, enhanced public service delivery and rural development.
During our last year’s budget vote in parliament we introduced the importance of local ICT hubs. We made a call for communities to bring forth local content. Through these there are opportunities which will emanate from agencies such as the post office as we digitise postal services. We are also continuously encouraging the private sector to assist us with enterprise development initiatives.
Realising these digital opportunities requires demand to be stimulated and use and uptake to be increased through the promotion of local and relevant content and applications.
According to the ITU, ICTs can be used to address special needs of indigenous people in relation to equitable access, use and knowledge of information communication technology (ICT’s). This will help them preserve their heritage and cultural legacy.
Women play a key role in reducing poverty and promoting social and economic development, for themselves, their families and their countries. ICT is an essential tool for the social and economic development of women and girls. Technology can be used to provide education as well as jobs, literacy and life skills training.
ITU promotes digital literacy training for women, empowering them through careers in ICTs and developing women’s community centres (ITU).
Youth and children with access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) are coming of age as digital natives, the early adopters of ICTs and better positioned than their parents to harness the power of digital technologies in new and imaginative ways. Youth can only leverage the transformative power of ICTs when they have access to ICT services and are equipped with a range of digital skills. ICTs can enhance education, reduce youth unemployment and promote social and economic development (ITU).
As the ICTs stakeholders we see this as radicalisation of economic inclusion using technology. ICTs are and will continue to be, a catalyst in dealing with the triple challenge of inequality, unemployment and poverty. We have already seen the impact of mobile phone penetration whereby the users have been able to access financial services through their phones.
Access to information and knowledge is critical to development learning. Generally speaking, ICT is suited to quickly reaching larger numbers of people across a wide geographical space. Radio and television have the ability to reach into both urban concentrations and remote areas.
e-Government and e-Learning
The launch of this ICT laboratory today enhances more opportunities for e-learning, as the government’s plan to put services online is well developed.
Access to Internet
The ultimate goal of broadband rollout is to ensure that everybody has access to Internet. Access to Internet is an omnibus to deliver educational content, economic inclusion, including strategies to deal with prevalent social ills in society, like, racism, reparative measures, social justice, including preventing violence against women and children.
Last year, the North West Province was the first beneficiary where we went with the private sector to set up a website to assist women in dealing with issues such as gender based violence. The website can be accessed on www.lwazi-ict.co.za
Conclusion
To the college students, make use this opportunity to learn as much as you can through ICT’s because it is through such skills, that you will realise radical economic inclusion in your life-time, in this very community.
Let me leave you with the famous quotation from the former states man, Tata Nelson Mandela when he said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
I thank you.
