and science for their careers
10 March 2006
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka encouraged the youth to choose
science and mathematics as their subjects at school in order to improve the
standard of technology in South Africa.
Speaking at the Baswa le Meetsi (Youth in Water) competition at Gallagher
Estate, Johannesburg, and the Deputy President said through the competition the
government was stimulating the interest of the youth to choose careers in the
water sector in order to address challenges of scarce skills. The competition
is an annual event organised by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
aimed at increasing the awareness of the importance of water among the
youth.
Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka said Baswa le Meetsi was in line with the
objectives of the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA)
of which one of them is education and skills development. She said economic
growth would be achieved only through having the right skills. She added that
children must be encouraged to choose maths and science in order to avoid a
science phobia.
She said she was pleased and encouraged to hear that the departments of
Education, Health, Arts and Culture, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Science
and Technology, water utilities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the
private sector are collaborating in this programme.
Co-operative governance and inter-sectoral collaboration guarantees not only
an integrated environmental education to schools and communities but
contributed immensely to the governments commitment to shared and accelerated
economic growth and development for our country."
Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, said her
Department would launch the educational resource materials and also award an
educator who participated in the development and testing of materials. Baswa le
Meetsi was part of the National Sanitation Week, which started on Monday and
ends today (Friday) "On the basis that water and sanitation are integrated into
the school curriculum, learners must demonstrate the knowledge they
attained.
"The Outcomes Based Education encourages learners to do projects that will
encourage them to apply their minds and find solutions", Minister Sonjica
said.
Baswa le Meetsi was a project of 2020 Vision Programme, which is a
school-based education programme which educates society through children about
water and sanitation issues. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is
working with the Education Department through Baswa le Meetsi to ensure that
water and sanitation issues are integrated into the curriculum for
sustainability and continuity, Minister Sonjica said.
The Project Manager of Baswa le Meetsi in the Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry, Ms Nomxolisi Matyana announced the results as follows:
Music: Mammutla Primary School from North West won the First Prize in music.
The school won R6 000, a media classroom, 10 computers connected to internet, a
cell-phone, a television set and a video
The Second Prize went to Mudzinga Primary School from Limpopo, they won R4
000 plus a video
The Third Prize was won by Imbubu Primary School which scooped R2 000 and
consolation prizes
Drama: Gobhogobho Primary School won the First Prize plus other valuables in
this category
The Second Prize of R4 000 was won by Thutoketsela Primary from Free
State
The Third Prize of R2 000 went to Bud Mbele Primary from
Gauteng
Poetry: Imbubu Primary from KwaZulu-Natal won a R4 000 First Prize plus
other items in this category
The Second Prize of R3 000 was won Shalom Primary from Gauteng
The Third Prize R2 000 went to Monakato in North West
Praise singing: Rebonasediba Primary scooped R4 000, a media classroom and a
water pump for the First Prize
Nkonyane Primary won a R3 000 Second Prize
Mshengu Primary from Mpumalanga scooped R2 000 as a Third Prize
Poster: The First Prize of R4 000 plus a media classroom was won by Kgopjane
Primary from the Free State
The Second Prize of R3 000 Phiphiva Primary from Limpopo
The Third Prize of R2 000 was won by Novuka Primary from
KwaZulu Natal
Ms Mtyana said that prizes were sponsored by MTN Cellphone Network. Half the
money that was won would be shared by the participating pupils the rest will be
used by their schools to buy education related items, she said.
Enquiries:
Themba Khumalo
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 802 3432
Issued by: The Presidency
10 March 2006
Source: SAPA
