Businessmen assist PROTEC students

2006-05-15

Picture: Mr Manie Kriel (left) and Mr Freddy Masekwameng (in the middle holding the cheque) with some of the PROTEC students.

Businessmen with PROTEC students The Phalaborwa Chamber of Business recently came to the rescue of financially weak students by paying off their fees to remain in the PROTEC programme. The PROTEC programme has produced many engineers, scientists, technicians, IT specialists and medical doctors over a short period of time. The programme focuses on high school students who are doing Mathematics and Science and provides them with additional enrichment lessons in the afternoons to enable them to get good symbols at their matric examinations and to assist them to get bursaries to continue with their tertiary education. Some of them have completed their studies and are back in Phalaborwa working for the sponsors.

On Monday 15 May 2006, two prominent businessmen from Phalaborwa, namely Mr Manie Kriel and Mr Freddy Masekwameng, visited the Palabora Foundation’s Rixile Education Centre and handed out the cheque to some of the financially weak students who could not afford to pay their registration fees to remain in the programme.

The main sponsors to the PROTEC programme in Phalaborwa are Palabora Mining Company, Foskor and Sasol Nitro. The other sponsors are Standard Bank, Phalaborwa Business Chamber, Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Lepelle Northern Water, Eskom, Professional Career Consultants and the Department of Education.

The PROTEC Phalaborwa branch has been producing 100% pass and over 80% university exemption pass rate since the first group of students matriculated in the year 2000. In 2005, it recorded the best ever matric results with 100% pass and 98% university exemption pass rate. “This record result doesn’t make us complacent, but we will continue with more vigour to maintain and to improve on this”, said the Chairman of the PROTEC Phaaborwa Management Board and the Director of the Palabora Foundation Mr Marc Demmer.

The sponsors also host the bi-monthly PROTEC management meetings and discuss the various issues affecting the proper running of the programme. Well-qualified teachers with long experience are recruited to teach the learners. “All aspects of the programme are subjected to a comprehensive audit every year and the recommendations are implemented to the letter to get these outstanding results”, said the Head of the Programme Mr C K Joseph. Those who would like to contribute to this programme are advised to contact Mr C K Joseph on 015 783 0116 during office hours.

: ends :