Sonjica, MP, at the handing over ceremony of science laboratories, Iqhayiya
Further Education and Training (FET) College
5 March 2009
Programme director
Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ESKOM Development Foundation, Ms
Coretta Magongoa,
CEO of the Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges, Mrs Joy Grobler
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentleman
It is an honour for me to speak at this auspicious event. It really is an
event that is close to my heart as issues of education and development are
closely intertwined.
Firstly I would like to highlight that government is committed to education.
To this end the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) has initiated a career
guidance programme known as the Learners Focus Week. This programme is part of
the greater ideal of redressing the imbalances of the past and to play a
significant role in removing the barriers for the youth to enter into the
various professions, particularly those necessary within the minerals and
energy sectors.
It therefore goes without saying that this effort will sustain and increase
the needed technical skills in the mining and energy sectors. Such an increment
of technical skills will raise the profile of the professions within the DME
sectors and therefore attract more learners. This will ensure that there will
be a continuation of the eradication of separation by education that was part
of what we so gallantly fought against.
The mining and energy sectors are highly technical fields so I encourage the
learners to study mathematics, geography and science so as to be able to take
up the technical subjects at tertiary level.
To the youth here today I would like to say that opportunities abound and it
is upon you to make the most of them.
I would like to name just a few of the career opportunities available within
the sectors I am responsible for, and these are:
* Electrical Engineering
* Mining Engineering
* Extractive Metallurgy
* Chemistry
* Geology
* Mechanical Engineering, the list goes on.
It is the duty of the Department of Minerals and Energy as a lead agent in
the mining and energy industries to ensure that critical information on
opportunities within the sectors is well communicated to the youth of South
Africa.
I am happy to say that we are in partnership with the provincial Departments
of Education (DoE), the DMEs State Owned Enterprises, for instance the Council
for GeoScience, PetroSA, Eskom, Central Energy Fund, as well as mining and
energy companies, in pursuit of this goal.
During the past year the DME entered into a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the University of Fort Hare. The aim was to assist various
departments within the institution, specifically, geology, chemistry,
statistics and biochemistry. This assistance was made possible by three of our
stakeholders, Council for GeoScience, the Central Energy Fund and PetroSA.
As the Department of Minerals and Energy seeks to address the issue of
skills shortage, we have developed schemes like the Malaysian Scholarship for
students to travel to Malaysia for studies, as well as bursary schemes for
students to study in the mine health and safety as well as nuclear fields.
These are equal opportunity scholarships and are aimed at empowering the
historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA).
I am therefore delighted to say we are gathered here today to hand over a
very noble project to not just the schools but also the community. In November
2007 at an information session facilitated by the DME, I requested Eskom and
PetroSA to assist with the provision of libraries at some of the needy primary
schools, as well as science laboratories at some of the high schools and
tertiary education and training colleges. I am really honoured that their
request was fulfilled by Eskom and PetroSA.
May I also take this opportunity to encourage both the educators and
learners to make efficient use of these facilities we are handing over today.
We are handing over is science laboratories at this local FET Colleges, as well
as others in the area. We will also hand over a computer centre assisted by
Eskom at Inkqubela Primary school.
To Eskom and PetroSA, I would like to extend my gratitude for a job well
done.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
5 March 2009
