PROTEC student nominated for the prestigious ‘Bale’ scholarship

2006-08-30

The ‘BALE’ project of the University of the Witwatersrand provides full scholarships for 20 matric girls from disadvantaged background to study Mathematics, Science and Engineering. The ‘BALE’ project is funded by the world famous Carnegie Foundation located in California. This year 46 girls were nominated from various schools in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. One of the nominees from Limpopo is Maria Malatjie who is a PROTEC student from Sebalamakgolo High School in Namakgale.

Maria attends afternoon lessons in PROTEC & Master Maths at the Palabora Foundation’s Leboneng Education Centre in Namakgale. The PROTEC programme has been running for 8 years and has produced several engineers, medical doctors, computer programmers, IT specialists, artisans etc. The PROTEC programme in Phalaborwa is sponsored by Palabora Mining Company, Foskor, Sasol Nitro, Lepelle Northern Water, Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Standard Bank, Professional Career Consultants and the Department of Education. Mr Marc Demmer who is the Chairman of the PROTEC Management Board played a significant role in setting up the PROTEC branch in Phalaborwa. The PROTEC Phalaborwa branch is managed by Mr C K Joseph who is a veteran in the field of Science Education.

Maria was recently called to the Wits University for attending a career guidance course and for writing a series of tests, the outcome of which will decide her scholarship. If she wins the scholarship, she will study free for the next 4 years for her favourite career- a mining engineer. “I have always wanted to grow up to become one of the most successful female mining engineers in South Africa because I am goal oriented and driven to achieve multitask and can deal with challenges at ease and I have the ability to make decisions and stand firm on it. I always go after what I want and allow nothing to stand in the way of my dreams and ambitions”, says the elated Maria.

Maria attended the PROTEC leadership course at Schoemansdal while she was in Grade 11 last year. She acknowledges that her positive attitude to life was sparked at the leadership course. Maria adds, “I feel very proud of myself and confidently believe that I would make it next year at Wits. I offer my sincere thanks to PROTEC and Master Maths as it was through these programmes that I performed better at school which is the corner stone of all my achievements.”

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