By Ireen Magwai
Thaba Nchu - Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Enver Surty, on Sunday wrapped up the National Imbizo Focus Week with a visit to the computer centre at Phetogane Secondary School in Thaba Nchu, in the Free State.
The visit to Thaba Nchu was a follow-up to an Imbizo held by the Deputy Minister of Communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, last year. During her visit to the area at the time she pledged to award 25 learners with bursaries and IT equipment to the ten local high schools.
As promised, all of the schools have received the ICT infrastructure - and seven schools are connected to Wi-Fi. Fifty learners from the different schools have each received bursaries worth R70 000 to go towards tuition fees and prescribed text books.
“I have seen significant developments made as a result of the government programme known as the National Imbizo Focus Week. It is a fundamental programme with a commitment to regularly interact with communities and ensure that service delivery blockages are addressed speedily,” said Deputy Minister Surty on Sunday.
He celebrated the fact that while 25 bursaries had been committed, 50 bursaries were in fact delivered.
Business sectors, non-profit organisations and government parastatals such as Vodacom, Shanduka and MICT SITA heeded the call and partnered with government in bridging the digital divide and providing learners with bursaries.
“On behalf of the government I would like to thank our stakeholders and partners for their enormous contributions. This Imbizo programme relies on active citizen participation; we all have a role to play to move South Africa forward” said Deputy Minister Surty.
During his visit to Phetogane Secondary School, the Deputy Minister engaged the learners on the importance of technology in advancing education.
“Information Communications Technologies are an essential tool that can advance education and equip learners and teachers with computer skills. Through ICT tools such as tablets and computers, school learners can access information such as case studies and previous exam question papers.”
Learners at Phetogane Secondary school expressed their gratitude to government and the sponsors.
“The ICT centre provided me with an opportunity to learn how to use a tablet and a computer, I am grateful that I will now be able to download study materials and university application forms” said Oratile, a matric learner.
The Imbizo Focus Week is a platform for communities to engage and interact with public representatives as well as senior government officials.
“As a principal and a beneficiary of the ICT infrastructure, I am proud of the work being done by government. I can attest that the Imbizo programme is yielding positive results. It is a good platform for communities to speak directly with government leaders and inform them about the challenges they are facing in their areas” said Phetogane Secondary School Principal, Daniel Phetlhu.
During his visit to Thaba Nchu, Deputy Minister Surty and his entourage joined learners, educators, school governing bodies and parents from the public secondary schools in the area in an interactive session to discuss education issues faced by the community. – SAnews.gov.za
