Protecting hands

-- (Credit: AP / PTI)PROGRAMME for Technological Careers
(Protec), a South African educational
charity is hellbent on nullifying the
myth created by the erstwhile apartheid
regime: Blacks can't do science. It is now
determined to rekindle Black children's
enthusiasm for technology by introducing special school lessons. For the first
time, technology is brought into dilapidated school classrooms, till recently
branded as "only-Blacks".

There is a high level of technological
illiteracy among South Africa's Black
population. In a society that is 85 per
cent black, the science and technology
workforce is 80 per cent white. Black
children are still uncomfortable with
subjects like maths and science, kept
effectively out of their reach for decades.
Only about 16 per cent of the students
take up these subjects in their schoolleaving exams. Now Protec is all set to
bring in change. With the Mandela government's support, it has introduced a
technology course in 40 schools in
Eastern Transvaal. Protec workers
organise special 'Saturday schools' during holidays, offering 'enrichment'
classes in maths, science and English.

The students get involved with practical projects where they develop a
product from conception through marketing and selling - anything from
candle-making to building a small
house. One group recently produced a
new washing-up liquid under the guidance of a local soap manufacturer.

But the technology classes have to
be squeezed into an already tight curriculum. And the Protec workers
believe, if the students regularly run out
of time and end up with not-5o-good
results, it would be tough convincing
them and their parents that technology
is not beyond their ken. But Protec,
hopeful of success, is already planning
to take its study courses to 2 other
states - Northern Transvaal and the
North Western province.