THANDI XABA
South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) in partnership with the University of Free State has launched a new faculty chair in Mathematics, Science and Technology education.
The endowment is aimed at helping improve the quality of teaching in these subjects at township and rural schools, forming part of the university’s School Change Project (SCP), an initiative launched by the vice-chancellor and rector of UFS, Professor Jonathan Jansen.
CEO of SANRAL Nazir Alli says SANRAL has long committed to helping more students to enter into science-related studies and careers and has sponsored several programmes at tertiary institutions.
“Given the critical role that SANRAL plays in civil engineering which requires skills in mathematics and science, the agency uses every possible opportunity to equip learners with the necessary skills to enter the science, technology and engineering fields,” he says.
The endowment of R30 million will be used over five years is to establish the SANRAL Chair. The SANRAL Chair, Professor Loyiso Jita adds that this initiative UFS is a very big step because it will serve as a launching pad.
“It’s a beginning for something bigger, in the coming five years we would like to launch a centre of excellence; it’ll be a good beginning for the university as it will begin to focus attention on the education of technology, maths and science. Furthermore this programme will assist the university produce education leaders who can turn around maths and science education in disadvantaged schools throughout Southern Africa.”
Free State MEC of Police, Roads and Transport Butana Khompela enthused that education is an everlasting investment and that next year their department is giving top students 50 bursaries to further studies in research academia.
In addition to sponsoring higher education, SANRAL is also involved in job creation through labour based projects and skills development through capacity building and training in the SMME sector, on several projects in Free State Province.
