UK Partnership Boosts Engineering Skills Drive | Western Cape Government

News

News

UK Partnership Boosts Engineering Skills Drive

10 October 2006

A leading Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Engineering and Technology Focus School is celebrating the donation of a Hot Metal Workshop to the value of R250,000.00, which will form part of government's bid to address the skills shortages in the country.

Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has given the keynote address at the celebratory function on Wednesday 11 October 2006, 13h00 at the Oval North High School in Oval North Road, Beacon Valley, Mitchell's Plain.

With this specialised equipment, the Oval North High School is able to manufacture everything from tools to decorative metalwork and even fine jewellery, says principal Mr Na-aim Kassiem.

Oval North High is the only school in South Africa to have the state-of-the-art hot-metal equipment that will be used for the first time today, sponsored by UK company Flame Fast.

The donation is the result of long standing partnerships between schools in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Said the principal Mr Na-aim Kassiem: "South Africa is currently faced with a severe skills shortage and the equipment will enhance the teaching of these studies.

"The school has recently received the equipment to assist with its roll out as a Focus School in this field.

"The equipment brings breadth and width to engineering studies at our school and will help us in producing top-quality engineers."

For further comment, contact the principal Mr Na-aim Kassiem 021 376 1067.

Media Enquiries: 

For enquiries:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Email: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za