New school for north community
“The department has initiated the establishment of schools of specialisation.”
The education department – in conjunction with BMW – launched a specialised school to teach Soshanguve high school children about the automotive industry this week.
This as Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi officially launched the Soshanguve Engineering School of Specialisation (SOS) at the Soshanguve Technical Secondary School in Block L on Tuesday.
“It is a first for a South African school to partner with the German-based BMW,” said Lesufi.
The school will teach children from grades 8 to 12.
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SOS is expected to equip learners with the skills and knowledge related to the automotive industry.
“The department has initiated the establishment of schools of specialisation,” said Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona in a statement.
“These schools will seek to nurture talent in young people across key disciplines and develop the country’s future leaders.”
Mabona said SOS was intended to address the skills shortage and unemployment crisis faced by today’s youth.
“These objectives cannot be realised without industry and private partnerships that will provide learners with workplace experience, learnerships, artisanship and entrepreneurial skills,” he said.
“This is a revolution and quality education which will benefit learners.”
Lesufi said they were excited about their partnership with BMW on this project.
More than 20 BMW X3s will be donated to schools, universities and science centres across South Africa, said BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa CEO Tim Abbott.
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“A further 19 BMWs will be donated to educational establishments across South Africa with a focus on technology and engineering,” Abbott said.
Abbot said the donation showed the company’s continued commitment to education and to the community in Soshanguve, where so many associates worked at the BMW group plant in Rosslyn.
“Education, training and skills development are at the heart of our activities in South Africa.”
Last year the company opened a R73-million training academy at the Rosslyn plant.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the early learning centre at the plant.
“The company’s commitment to schools continues with the upgrade of facilities at Ntsha-Peu primary school in Soshanguve, one of 144 schools the company has supported over the years,” he said.
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