YOUR GUIDE TO INVESTING IN EDUCATION
The national electricity provider Eskom is optimistic that its role in nurturing maths, science and technology learners will lead to a brighter tomorrow.
Driven to succeed: Solomon Ndlovu and Thomas Makubula with their award-winning electric car which won a gold award at the 1999 expo finals
Millions of rands are given in bursaries to students studying towards maths, science and technology qualifications, says Joe Matsau, executive director, in the office of the chief executive.
He says that in April, Eskom appointed 40 women recruited from rural communities 18 months ago.
”These women were part of the Eskom chief executive’s women graduate programme doing their MSc in engineering business management. For a long time now, the technical businesses of Eskom have been dominated by males, and there is a need therefore to bring a balance and present women with opportunities in the engineering environment,” he says.
The recruitment process is under way for the second intake of another 40 women to commence their studies by November 1.
”We are pleased to announce that, again, 90% of our intake is from rural communities.”
Matsau says Eskom will embark on a number of new and exciting initiatives in the science and technology field, one of which may be a television programme aimed at enabling South Africans to see the success of engineering and technology professions and industries.
”Young people also need to see successful examples of engineering to associate with, and this programme (Expo for Young Scientists) will go a long way in achieving that,” he adds.
Matsau was speaking at the relaunch of the 21-year-old expo for young scientists under the Eskom banner. The expo will be known as the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and will be given a sponsorship amounting to over R1-million over three years.
”One thing that Africa is not short of is incredibly innovative human talent. As a responsible and dedicated corporate citizen, Eskom is totally committed to ensuring that the African Renaissance is realised,” says Matsau.
”The Eskom Expo for young Scientists is a fertile breeding ground for unleashing our youth’s potential in these fields.”
In addition to the sponsorship of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Eskom annually supports the development of skills. Since the start of the year, R77-million has been allocated for bursaries and scholarships.
”Our aim is to bring these communities into the mainstream of the economy. In May, we announced that Eskom had budgeted R77-million for bursaries and scholarships for students in the year 2001. The total number of university and technikon students being sponsored is 1 564, and 605 of these students are from rural communities.
”These bursaries and scholarships are mainly in the fields of engineering, finance and information technology, and this is one way in which Eskom contributes to the improvement of education in this country.”
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, August 2001.
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