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The Department of Transport will launch the Mpumalanga leg of the Transporting Technology to School Project at Ndabezitha Junior Secondary School on Friday May 25,2001. The Honourable Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar, did the national launch of the project last year on 4 August 2000 at Phalatse Lenyai in Winterveld. The project is meant to improve the administration and technological strength of rural disadvantaged schools. The project will also advance the administration and the professional running of schools and afford for the first time pupils opportunity to have access to computers. Eighteen schools were empowered last year in the North West province; 'pupils and teachers at our school had never used a computer before', - the principal of Phalatsi Lenyai summed it up in the letter he sent to the Minister. "This is the first time we are typing with a computer", he typed.

In Mpumalanga, five schools in Kwaggafontein West, Tweefontein, Kwamhlanga, Grobersdal and Weltevrede circuits were identified for the first round of donation. The project will also continue in other provinces during the course of the year. With the launch of the Mpumalanga leg of the project the Department has picked up a momentum to empower rural disadvantaged schools. The Director-General of Transport, Sipho Msikinya, has requested other departments to be part of this national importance initiative. Speaking of the project the Minister said the project is very important as it impacts directly on the people. "Computers will help our children to grow up with an understanding and knowledge of information technology, making them global citizens. They would be able to access government information for empowerment, interact with colleagues around the world and also administer their daily activities in schools smartly," he said. At the launch of the project, the Department will also engage pupil, parents and teachers on road safety and HIV/AIDS education. The project is in partnership with Sybase, IBM, Choice Technologies, PQ Africa and Accenture.

Contact: Mike Mabasa on 083 680 7048

Issued by: Ministry of Transport, 24 May 2001