Rural learners will now be able to access science and technology right at their doorstep - thanks to the helping hand of the Beyers Naudé School Development Programme, Kagiso Trust and the Absa Foundation.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Enver Surty, and Limpopo’s MEC for Education, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, officially handed over two fully equipped computer labs, a borehole and two science labs to four secondary schools in Vhembe on Friday.

The main function of the joint handing over took place at Ndaedzo Secondary School, Dzwerani Village. Thambatshira Secondary School was the beneficiary of a computer lab, whereas Lwamondo High School was equipped with a science lab. Muthamaro Secondary School was given a new life with the handing over of a borehole and Ndaedzo Secondary School received computer and science labs. The schools were requested to submit a needs analysis and they were involved in the transformation agenda areas of school management, leadership, team building, mathematics and science and the financial management system.

The Beyers Naudé Schools Development Programme is targeted at rural schools with the aim of developing vibrant, healthy, accountable and sustainable school communities. Its overall objective is to create functionally thriving schools through the building of leadership capacity and value adding relationships and training interventions. Kagiso Trust is a non-governmental development agency, which endeavors to contribute to a social order that offers justice and freedom from poverty.

They have budgeted R80-million for the development of education in rural schools. The trust aims at reversing the legacies bequeathed by discrimination and exploitation of the disadvantaged communities through education. The ABSA Foundation has put aside R60-million to support rural schools in the development of mathematics and science.

When handing over the labs and borehole to the schools, Mr Surty says the collaboration between the Beyers Naudé Schools Development Programme, Kagiso Trust and the Absa Foundation clearly defines the prophesies of the Freedom Charter that the doors of learning shall be opened to everyone. He said the government is also involved in the upgrading of the mathematics and science results by investing money in different projects. "We have put aside R1,2-billion for scholarships meant for those who would like to pursue careers in mathematics and science. This country needs more engineers, architects and scientists who will be able to meet the technological changes of this world. Education is not only about the infrastructure, but it is also about meeting the quality and standards of the community in which we live. These information technology facilities must not only benefit the learners, but must also be meant for the transformation of the local communities. The world is changing at a very high speed and we need to adapt to the changes of the 21st century. Through technology, we also have to make sure that our children are not disadvantaged when they further their studies at urban institutions of higher learning."

Surty praised the Vhembe schools for producing good results in disadvantaged learning conditions. "We are aware that schools in Vhembe are producing good results despite difficult learning conditions. We are very proud of you because you have displayed to the whole country that hard work is the only recipe for success."

MEC Aaron Motsoaledi said the government could not achieve all its aims without the assistance of dedicated partners like the Beyers Naude Schools Development Programme, Kagiso Trust and the ABSA Foundation. He said there is still a great need to improve the education infrastructure in the province. "98% of the schools in the province were built by the communities themselves and most of them do not meet the required occupational safety standards of the country. 2 900 schools need to be demolished because they can no longer be renovated. In Vhembe alone, 239 schools have collapsed and the Department of Education will need R500-million per year for the next 10 years to normalize the situation."

Mr Johan Naudé from the Naudé family, Kgotso Schoeman from the Kagiso Trust and Riah Phiyega from ABSA also gave messages of support during the function.