Thousands of pupils to benefit from new library in Piet Retief
Schools and the community of Piet Retief in Mpumalanga welcomed the opening of the Mondi Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Mostem) Library on 22 February.
Built on the grounds of the Mondi Science Centre, with a R560 000 contribution from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the library specialises in science, technology, engineering and mathematics information – benefiting learners and teachers from foundation to secondary level.
The 122 m2 Mostem Library, located in the province's Gert Sibande District Municipality, complements the services offered at the science centre, which include science career guidance and further education and training.
Handing over the library, the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Michael Masutha, urged school pupils in the area to maintain passion, drive and excitement in their mathematics and science studies, saying these were the three most important ingredients for success.
"It does not matter where you come from and you do not need money to succeed. All you need is passion, passion and passion," he said, adding that the right attitude towards life was adopting an attitude of non-failure.
The handover is part of the DST's campaign to promote mathematics and science education in the country. Over 18 000 learners in this district municipality who visit the science centre each year stand to benefit massively from this facility as they seek to improve their knowledge and understanding of maths and science.
The Deputy Minister explained why it was important for him to visit areas such as the Gert Sibande District Municipality: "Unless we motivate people like you to study science to be able to operate huge scientific projects in South Africa, such as the Square Kilometre Array, the future is doomed."
He added it was important for government to ensure that the support it offered to learners and students in the country guaranteed a future and a solid career, so that a better story would told tomorrow than the story that can be told today. He also acknowledged efforts by the private sector to help improve the image of the province, citing improved teacher and learner school performance.
The District Director of Education, Nokuthula Mthethwa, said the library would have a positive impact on the lives of the ordinary people of Piet Retief and surrounding areas. She also acknowledged the Deputy Minister's exemplary commitment to issues of education.
She added: "The Department of Education reiterates its commitment to making education enterprise everybody's business. This donation encourages innovative thinking, and promotes open-mindedness and humility among our learners, who should continuously assess their goals and explore solutions to educational challenges."
She said the library and the mobile science lab that the DST had donated to the science centre in 2010 were enhancing learner performance in the area, particularly in mathematics, science and technology. Previously there had been no laboratories to conduct science experiments.
A Grade 12 learner at the Piet Retief Combined School, Mthokozisi Madonsela, welcomed the donation, saying the library had played a very positive role in his mathematics, physical science and life sciences studies. It had not only improved his results, but stimulated his interest in the subjects.
"Through such assistance from government, Mpumalanga will change for the better. The province will be able to produce more doctors, engineers and scientists to benefit the country as a whole," he said.
