Province welcomes new technical subjects at schools

The Eastern Cape department of education has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s move to introduce new subjects to promote technical and vocational education and to embrace the fourth industrial revolution in schools.

During his State of the Nation address on Thursday, the president announced that several new technology subjects would be introduced, and these include technical maths, technical science, maritime, aviation studies, mining sciences and aquaponics.

The president said the introduction of these subjects was in line with government’s framework for a skills changing world.

Three of these subjects – technical maths, technical science and maritime – were already being offered in some schools.

Reacting on Ramaphosa’s speech, the department of education superintended-general in the province, Themba Kojana on Friday said although they had not looked into mining and aviation, with a coastline that stretches over 800km and ample fertile land, the province had for now opted to strengthen maritime and agriculture studies instead.

There are currently two schools, both in East London, offering maritime studies – Ngwenyathi High School in Nxarhuni, and George Randall High School.

Kojana said the process of going completely digital when managing schools in the province was in the last phase.

Another announcements made by the president that the province has embraced was the provision of digital workbooks and textbooks on a tablet device over the next six years.

The president said the introduction of these subjects was in line with government’s framework for a skills changing world