Pretoria - Education Minister Naledi Pandor has challenged South African businesses to help build a numerate, literate and technologically advanced society by supporting and adopting schools.
During a visit to the Bokgoni Technical High School in Atteridgeville, Pretoria on Wednesday, the minister highlighted that businesses which adopted schools were helping to ensure South Africa's children received a better education.
"The challenges that we face require hard work from all. Government cannot overcome these challenges alone. We need the support of stakeholders and partners.
"In particular, we want companies to adopt Dinaledi schools, to mobilise technical support and expertise for the development of mathematics and science."
She said such partnerships were not only about giving money, but should include arrangements for tutoring and mentoring.
"Tutoring and mentoring can turn the adoption of a school into a firm commitment that will change the lives of children and teachers forever.
"We are vigorously promoting this partnership programme in an effort to encourage the private sector to adopt and work with schools in achieving positive education goals," the minister said.
She emphasised a need for businesses who adopt schools to expand Maths and Science.
"We need to increase the number of engineers, doctors, chartered accountants and other professionals in order to strengthen our competitiveness and enhance development. All these objectives require high competency in Mathematics," Minister Pandor said.
To date 287 schools (out of 500) have been adopted by different business institutions, private donors and selected institutions of higher learning.
On Wednesday, Volkswagen SA adopted the Bokgoni School for three years and invested R844 000 in improving school infrastructure. This is part of its R30 million corporate social investment programme.
Bokgoni High falls under the Dinaledi Schools Project, which are schools dedicated to teaching Mathematics and Science.
The company's initial support includes the provision of a security fence, laptop computers, technical drawing boards, technical drawing work books, data projectors, calculators for Grades 10, 11 and 12 learners and requisite training for technical drawing teachers.
The company will further refurbish the ablution block for boys and girls and extend it to accommodate the significantly increasing number of learners enrolled at the school in the past two years.
Minister Pandor thanked the company for taking up the mathematics, science and technology challenge.
She said in 2005, the department met the 50 000 target set out for Grade 12 learners passing Mathematics at the equivalent of Higher Grade in 2008.
"In the 2008 NSC examinations, 63 000 passed at over 50 percent, more over, our Dinaledi Schools made a valuable contribution to the number of these successful learners."
Dinaledi schools comprise only seven percent of all schools but contributed 24 percent of the 63 000 high level mathematics passes.
Volkwagen Corporate and Government Affairs Director Nonkqubela Maliza said improving competency in Maths and Science amongst learners remained a key factor in addressing the skills shortage in sectors such as engineering and enhancing economic growth.
"This three-year partnership with Bokgoni is motivated by our commitment to contribute towards addressing our country's socio-economic challenges and the school's determination to improve," Ms Maliza said.
Speaking to BuaNews, school Principal Timothy Mathopa said the equipment and infrastructure upgrade would help the school to foster an environment that was conducive to learning, making it an enjoyable and valued place for both learners and teachers.
