There was ululating and whistling today at Nhlangwini village in Highflats as the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance, Ina Cronjé, and Treasury Head, Simiso Magagula, donated computers to the rural Phungashe Education Centre.
The centre is intended to improve education amongst youth and the community at large. It was established by the provincial Department of Education to be the central hub of knowledge, information and learning. To reach out to local communities and school children with library services, science laboratories, information technology and many other programmes to the previously marginalised communities.
The centre manager, Mr Sifiso Dlamini, said: “The donated computers will help our centre to fulfil its vision of becoming a centre of excellence in information and technology. The computers will allow us working with our partners, to introduce advanced teaching methods and to provide our schools and our disadvantaged communities with an opportunity to equip themselves with the knowledge for a successful future.”
MEC Cronjé reminded the centre management not to forget the initial reason why these institutions were erected in the first place. “Very few schools in rural areas had electricity which made it difficult to connect computers into those schools. In a bid to bring access to libraries, computers, laboratories and many other services within reach of our schools, the concept of the education centres was born, where all these services were made available to schools. Access to these facilities was also extended to local communities.”
Magagula was thrilled to see the centre functioning properly in the deep rural village of the province. “We are here to donate 10 computers to the centre. Computers will be accessible to school-going youth as well as out-of-school youth and even adults in general as this facility is open to everyone. We are delighted to hear that the centre has already hired computer trainers to assist communities with computer skills.”
Enquiries:
Mr Ntokozo Maphisa, Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 0827730937
Tel: 033 846 6986
Fax: 033 846 6801/2
E-mails: ntokozo.maphisa@kzntreasury.gov.za
