ICT and Pharmacy students jet off to India
The Free State Provincial Government, in partnership with Tech Mahindra - an Indian multinational provider of information technology, networking technology solutions and business support services to the telecommunications industry – has this morning, July 27, 2015, sent 50 students from across the Province to a six month Information and communications technology (ICT) training programme in India. This now brings the total number of students on the Tech Mahindra ICT programme in India to 100.
The training programme will be provided with top notch infrastructure available at Tech Mahindra, and will be handled by highly qualified professionals. “I am very happy to get this opportunity of furthering my studies in India. This is a once in a life time opportunity and I promise the Free State Government to work hard and acquire the necessary skills that will assist in moving the Free State forward,” said Mapaseka Raputsoane, a resident of Botshabelo who forms part of the group of students who will study in India.
Upon completion of the ICT programme by the students, the Free State Provincial Government will assist with placement of these students in various Government Departments and Entities. Tech Mahindra will also identify students who will do well and subsequently put measures in place to absorb them in their satellite office in South Africa.
“It is important that we look into a well-coordinated approach of advancing issues of service delivery through reconfiguration of the current partisan approach to ICT to a more collaborative approach that will see ICT play a more crucial role in advancing the province”, said the Chief Information Officer, Thabang Mokoka, who highlighted that sending the students to India forms part of the resolutions of the Free State ICT Summit, held in June 2015.
In addition to this group of students jetting off to India, are nine students who will be studying Pharmacy at the Manipal Medical University, in the Kanataka State of India. The Free State Provincial Government has identified Pharmacy as one of the scarce skills in the province, particularly manufacturing pharmacists, and Manipal Medical University, as one of the biggest and well established medical institutions in India, will be well-placed in capacitating these young leaders of tomorrow.
“The development of our economy lies in the growth of our people through education”, said the Premier of the Free State, Ace Magashule.
“Our focus on education has yielded excellent results over the past five years and we will continue to tirelessly work towards growing and strengthening the professional skills base in the Province, and the country as a whole”, concluded the Premier.
For media enquiries:
Makalo Mohale
Spokesperson to the Premier
Cell: 076 053 7618
E-mail: mohalem@mailbox.co.za
