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Speaking at a speech and prize giving day ceremony at Mandwandwe High School in Nkulumane yesterday, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, said it was disappointing to note that many children from the region did not qualify to enrol with Nust.
Dr Mpofu also pledged to buy roofing materials, windows and doors for the Advanced Level Science block, which the school is struggling to complete.
“May I convey my appreciation to Unicef, the Government and other partners for providing learning materials for our children. It is, however, saddening to realise that most schools do not offer science subjects at A-level,” said Dr Mpofu.
“We have Nust which offers mostly science degree programmes, but our children are not being adequately prepared to enrol with the institution.”
He urged the Mandwandwe High School’s Development Committee to get a quotation for materials needed to complete the
A-level block and have the laboratory running by the end of the year.
“I am told the roof, windows and doors are what remains. Go to Monarch and get a quotation and I will pay for it. We need to get our science laboratories running so that our children are not disadvantaged when they apply for places at Nust,” said Dr Mpofu.
He challenged corporate representatives who attended the event to contribute towards the completion of the science complex.
“The industry needs skilled manpower and should invest in manpower development schemes by channelling resources towards this noble cause. Skills development is a key variable without which the school cannot achieve its set targets,” said Dr Mpofu.
He said the future development of any community was underpinned by education among other factors.
“That is the reason why we say a learning nation is a developing nation,” he said.
Speaking during the same occasion, the school’s headmaster, Mr Lymias Moyo, said the school needed funds to build four classroom blocks, three specialist classes, a library, a hall, and a block of toilets, as part of its long-term expansion programme.
The School Development Association chairperson, Mr Mapulani Hove, hailed the parents for contributing towards the upliftment of the school.
“With the little resources at hand, we have completed study sheds, construction of the strong room, bought a kombi, installed steel doors for most of the classrooms, repaired furniture and bought 10 000 bricks to build the A-Level science lab,” said Mr Hove.
Online Reporter
Sidumisile Mabena