Science and technology minister Naledi Pandor has urged young South Africans to pursue careers in information and communications technology.
Speaking at the launch of the re-vamped auditorium at the Cape Town Science Centre, Pandor said SA's youth need to take advantage of establishments like the centre.
The new facility in the science centre will offer a platform for science and education awareness that can be used by other organisations and NGOs that are involved with educating young people, says Julie Cleverdon, director of the Cape Town Science Centre.
The facility, located in Observatory, aims to enrich the school curriculum and equip learners by providing hands-on learning experiences using exhibits that are designed to increase learners' skill and understanding of science, technology and maths.
According to Pandor, there are 34 science centres spread across eight of the country's provinces.
"No one old ever invented anything on the Internet," noted Pandor.
Pandor said the future of the country and the African continent depended on talented scientists and entrepreneurs with scarce skills developing new technologies and innovative solutions for pressing problems.
"We are aggressively investing in the capacity to create and diffuse new knowledge. Following global trends, we are investing in the modernisation of research and development infrastructure and, in particular, new instruments and facilities as key components in the drive to ensure there is the requisite capacity to generate new knowledge."
Share