The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial government has opened the Moses Kotane Institute - a training facility dedicated to the improvement of science and technology in the province.
“The institute has a total budget of R90 million for a four-year cycle. 40% of this will come from the provincial government and 60% from other national sources,” says Musa Cebisa, spokesperson for the KZN department of finance and economic development.
At the opening of the institute, KZN premier Sibusiso Ndebele said it would specialise mainly in building the skills of historically disadvantaged students.
Cebisa added that government is hoping to make available opportunities to poor people by providing funds and interacting directly with institutions of learning to provide tuition in mathematics, the sciences and technology.
This year, the institute will cater for 480 students, ranging from high school learners and university bridging students, to teachers and government employees. Three programmes will be offered - this will include training programmes for maths and science teachers, and tuition for university students who want to take up a degree in the sciences but do not qualify.
The institute is not accredited to give certificates. Its programmes will be offered through accredited institutions such as UKZN, the University of Pretoria and Ethekwini FET College.
“The institute is a think-tank at this stage that is providing opportunities. In addition, it is matching sciences and technology with the philosophy of Ubuntu so that when the students finish their studies, they must see the need to go back to their communities and contribute to community development,” noted Cebisa.
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