Education and Training (FET) college students
22 August 2007
Thanks to the Community Social Initiative (CSI) of GrandWest, thousands of
children have benefited from previous investments in special, pre-school and
adult education, and computers, which means thousands of children now have
access to opportunities they could previously only dream of.
So said Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore at a function last night
where the company announced its R5 million bursary fund, and presented the
first 25 bursaries to students in the Further Education and Training college
sector or universities. The students are all enrolled in engineering, finance,
environmental development or other scarce skills related courses.
Said MEC Dugmore, "In the thirteen years of our democracy, we have been able
to bring about radical changes and reforms, and significantly so thanks to the
support of business, like the Community Social Initiative of GrandWest,
especially in this province.
"The more and more we implement interventions to undo the legacies of
apartheid, the more it becomes clear to me how deep those legacies still
run.
"For example, in terms of literacy and numeracy, our children do not perform
on the levels required from them; too few learners from historically
disadvantaged communities pass with exemption and with maths and science; more
than 600 schools are still without halls; many require libraries and science
labs; and our schools still battle against vandalism, crime and drugs.
"I am very pleased with the commitment of GrandWest to education in the
Western Cape, and that you are now taking it to an even higher plateau, with
the launch of your R5-million GrandWest CSI Bursary Fund for Maths, Science or
Technology students at tertiary institutions in the province.
"This fund could not have come at a better time. We are all aware of the
fact that the world will descend upon us in four years� time. In order to
prepare for the Soccer World Cup, we have got to do some serious work in
building infrastructure and technological networks.
"We need to produce at least 13 000 engineers per annum, and we need about
half-a-million professionals in the Information Technology, finance and other
critical sectors of the economy. Therefore, if we want to expand and sustain
our economy, we need to produce even more learners passing maths, science and
accountancy, and enrolling in the relevant courses at universities and FET
colleges."
For enquiries, contact:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Cell: 082 550 3938
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
22 August 2007
