Ports and Ships - Port news and Shipping Movements in African and Southern African Ports and Harbours

Cape Town, 3 June 2011 - South African port operator Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) recognises the need to generate awareness of the maritime field in a country driven by sea- borne trade and home to some of the busiest and most well equipped ports in Africa.

So said Velile Dube, Terminal Executive Manager for the Ports of Cape Town and Saldanha operated by Transnet Port Terminals’ (TPT). Dube was speaking at the recent handover of two state-of-the-art, renovated science labs and Smart Board ™ teaching aids totalling R285,000 to Langa High School in Langa Township, Cape Town.

“South Africa has a dire need to address its critical shortage of skills in science and technology and it is essential to revive the interest of careers in disciplines such as marine navigation and marine engineering,” he said.

Dube added that TPT wanted to play a meaningful role by supporting educational upliftment programmes and marine awareness, with a particular focus on mathematics, science and technology in secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

The state-owned port operator has given science-oriented pupils at four public schools in the Western Cape a R600,000 technological boost in the form of the high-tech Smart Boards. The schools are Langa High School in Cape Town, Manyano High School in Khayelitsha, Diazville High in Saldanha and Vredenburg High School on the West Coast.

The technology allows even resource-strapped schools with inadequate laboratory infrastructure and expertise to bring to life teaching across a range of subjects. Educators teach with the aid of the Smart Boards’ multimedia resources and lessons, which are beamed out virtually via a large touch screen to pupils in the classroom. This allows learners to witness subjects like science, mathematics, biology, physical science and technical drawing in action.

Similar projects are also running in other regions including Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Like the other communities set to benefit from these investments, Langa Township is victim to high poverty and unemployment, with most learners struggling to find meaningful employment once they have completed their schooling.

“Greater interest in the maritime field can be used as a launch pad for pursuing economic growth, poverty alleviation, job creation and global competitiveness,” concluded Dube, who is also the Chairman of TPT’s Regional CSI Committee.