Another great year for PROTEC and Master Maths

2007-11-24

Some of the most prominent people in Phalaborwa were present at Lulekani Town Hall on Saturday to witness the latest successes of the Palabora Foundation’s PROTEC and Master Maths programmes. The programmes, which promote excellence in maths and science at high school level, are amongst the most successful in South Africa. As Richard Nkwinika (Greater Phalaborwa Principals Association) put it: “Your deeds are speaking”. Saturday’s award ceremony was crowded with proud parents and sponsors, along with the several hundred learners benefiting from the programmes.

In a jubilant ceremony, awards were given to the top ten students in each grade and each category of learning, with trophies awarded to the top performers. Thunderous applause and broad grins from the groups of students, as well as their family and friends, paid testament to the immense pride surrounding the PROTEC and Master Maths programme. Clearly there is friendly but very serious competition to be the best.

As further evidence of how seriously the learners take their responsibilities and privilege, groups of learners from PROTEC Rixile (Lulekani) and PROTEC Leboneng (Namakgale) performed special items. Rixile’s choral verse about PROTEC ended, “Let other communities learn from you so as to teach others, for the sake of our country’s prosperity”. Leboneng’s drama, entitled “Ba-Phalaborwa Wake Up Week”, was an amusing fictional story of a father who was taken to court for preventing his daughter from doing her PROTEC work. Individual students later performed a poem; another pledged the heartfelt thanks of all the learners to their mentor, Mr C K Joseph, the Foundation’s PROTEC and Master Maths Programme Head, comparing him to Nelson Mandela for his patience and greatness.

During his welcome speech, Malesela Letsoalo, Palabora Foundation’s Operations Manager, urged the learners to think of matric as the first step in their career. He then went on to thank the sponsors and supporters of the PROTEC and Master Maths programmes*.

Formers students, now employed by sponsors of their bursaries, such as PMC, Foskor and Sasol Nitro, spoke of their gratitude for the opportunities they have had through PROTEC and Master Maths. They encouraged the current learners to do their best and not to be discouraged if things were difficult, and to continue to work hard at university.

The keynote speech by Willem Jacobs, Factory Manager at Sasol Nitro, described maths and science as the master keys to life’s doors. He went on to say that he believes in starting with the difficult or unpleasant tasks first, so that you can enjoy the rest of the day. He encouraged the learners to do the same, and to do their best at school and on the programme, so that they will enjoy the rest of their lives more.

Programme Director for the day, Ernest Ngobeni, commented, “If you think education is expensive, try and ignore it”. The Foundation’s PROTEC and Master Maths programmes are proof that the right kind of investment in education pays huge dividends.

* The main sponsors of the PROTEC programme in Phalaborwa are the Palabora Mining Company, Foskor Ltd and Sasol Nitro. The other board members are the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Lepelle Northern Water, Standard Bank, the Phalaborwa Chamber of Business, the Department of Education, Professional Career Consultants, GAGE Specialists, Mopani South East FET College, Eskom, the Greater Phalaborwa Principals’ Association and the Namakgale and Lulekani Parent Committees.

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