R30m for Mpumalanga schools
Lazarus Mabasa
13 October 2004
Schools in Mpumalanga are to benefit from a R30-million donation made by BHP Billiton mining company on Tuesday to improve the quality of education in the province.
The Mvelandzandivho, Tshivhenda for knowledge creation, is a school development support project of the provincial department of education funded by the BHP Billiton Trust Fund to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
Education MEC Siphosezwe Masango said the department welcomed the generous contribution, a five-year support project which also aims to assist learners to participate in the world of technology.
"I have noted with interest that one of the specific objectives of Mvelandzandivho is to improve the quality of teaching mathematics and science.
"What we are witnessing is the renewal and reconfirmation of a long-standing friendship with BHP Billiton," said Masango, who added that the launch of the project marked another commitment by the department in
partnership with BHP Billiton to further improve the quality of education in the province.
The Ingwe Coal Company, a subsidiary of BHP Billiton, is currently building new classrooms at Amanzi School in Badplaas.
"While expressing my heart felt thanks to BHP Billiton, I want to extend an invitation to other businesses to lend a helping hand to this ongoing battle of uplifting our education," said Masango.
"As South Africa was increasingly becoming a key player in international affairs, we have no reason of not accelerating the provisioning of world-class education," added Masango.
The project will also be extended to disadvantaged schools in KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West.
Source: BuaNews
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