HELPING TO ADVANCE SCIENCE EDUCATION

Author: Cedric Mboyisa

The Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education (SITFE) in conjunction with Illovo Sugar South Africa is providing much-needed assistance to rural schools on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

The two have partnered up to provide laboratory equipment and furniture to Izingolweni Science Laboratory to the tune of a half a million rand over a two-year period. The project was officially launched at the Ezinqoleni Resource Centre. “The stuff (science equipment) you have here is very important and useful. I hope this will help produce engineers and scientists,” said Tim Murray, SITFE Chairman. Illovo Sugar South Africa Corporate Affairs Director Sbu Hlela urged the community to look after the newly acquired resources for the benefit of learners and the public at large.

SITFE has approved multi-million rand projects aimed at benefiting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in the sugarcane growing provinces of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga. With a specific focus on KZN, the projects will ensure funding support to the Izingolweni (Ezinqoleni) Education Centre Science Laboratory in Port Shepstone, career development aimed at keeping girls in school with a focus on the Ugu, Harry Gwala and UMkhanyakude districts, building of a state-of-the-art science laboratory for a rural high school in Jozini, an early childhood development programme for 96 centres, and school, learner and curriculum support programmes in the province.

Above from left: XXXXX xxxxx