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Ndzimande said the idea of building a science centre in Cofimvaba arose from the Technology for Rural Education and Development (Tech4RED) project, a partnership between the DBE, the ECDoE and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
According to Nzimande, the project was aimed at improving education in rural areas by piloting technological innovation for water and sanitation, energy, nutrition and health.
He added that this centre would serve 26 high schools in the area, schools that had previously relied on a mobile science unit donated by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and Sasol.
Mabuyane said their greatest concern, as the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, was unemployment. He said artisan skills, science skills and information and communications technology (ICT) skills had been cited in numerous reports as scarce skills in their province and country.
“The economy needs these skills and the jobs of the future need learners who are equipped with the skills I just mentioned.
“The centre is also a fruitful illustration of the district development model in practice, in that planning and spending across the three spheres of government were integrated and aligned and importantly, the input of communities was considered upfront,” said Mabuyane.
