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PROUD MOMENT: Free State premier Ace Magashule (front, left) with acting health MEC Msebenzi Zwane (back, left), Mangaung municipality mayor Thabo Manyoni (back, second from left), MEC for economic development, tourism and environmental affairs Mamiki Qabathe (back, second from right) and MEC for education Tate Makhoe (back, right) with two of the students leaving for Cuba to study medicine. Photo: Ntwaagae Seleka

 The only weapon you can use to fight poverty is education 

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Magashule was addressing the students on Monday night in Bloemfontein. The first students will be leaving soon.

Magashule said that his government promised in 2009 to eradicate poverty in the province by investing in the youth through education.

"Many people in this province are poor and the only weapon you can use to fight poverty is education," he said.

"We want you to be educated so that you can assist your family and society. We want you to plough back into the society and play a role in ending the cycle of poverty."

He blamed apartheid for denying the older generation opportunities to further their studies.

"You are the fortunate ones and have a caring government that is taking you to school abroad for free.

"Since 1994, the government has spent R10-million a year on sending learners to Cuba.

"When we took over in 2009, we aimed to send 2000 pupils to various universities across the country and overseas. We managed to raise R154-million," he said.

The funds were raised through private companies and banks in the province.

Magashule said he wanted to increase the number of students studying in Cuba to 200 in future and said students from other provinces may also be considered.

MEC for education Tate Makhoe urged the students not to be ashamed to return home after completing their studies .

Mabetha Mohayi said he could not wait to begin his studies and become a general practitioner.

"I am happy that one day I will live my dream," he said.

Gadibole Kodisang said he wanted to be a heart specialist and would return home to serve the people of Free State. - ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za

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Sun May 19 08:58:38 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 15, 2012

Thabzzzzz

you can give the children and youth all the education that is there to give but it wont change anything due to the fact that the are no JOBS on the market..Providing jobs is the first step in fighting poverty..
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Aug 15, 2012

cornelius

You idiot, you should no tbe taking credit, but thanking the businesses and banks that are giving the money.
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Aug 15, 2012

MicaParis

Our ongoing battle to have full control over our service delivery is illustrated today by the high number of riots and protests which are rife in public domain orchestrated by Comrades who think it is acceptable to loot Government coffers because our public turned blind eye whereas the riots suggest that the public is actually watching in total despair and impatience thereby forming a ticking bomb which will fatally explode against the ANC to the opposite any available opposition party which would be lucky by the time of explosion of an already ticking bomb!
If please the honorable Comrade Premier can extent the same good commitment to the core service delivery mandates in his province. It is very dangerous for the ANC to deliver the services ''six days'' before the election day, people will no longer be fooled by that shallow folklore strategy!
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Aug 15, 2012

Tsafendason

Well done Ace, thi is the way to go. if there's one thing i need to applaud the ANC for since coming into power, is the number of young black South Africans they have managed to put to school in the midst of their corruption!
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Aug 15, 2012

RobinH

Now just make sure the money doesn't disappear like happened with the last batch who found themselves left high and dry in Cuba without funds.
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Aug 15, 2012

OLDLADY4

Study medicine in Cuba??????? I remember a time, not too long ago, when doctors who qualified right here in SA, were ranked amongst the best educated doctors in the world. What happened?
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Aug 15, 2012

cornelius

@Tsafendason - and what about the quality of that education ? We are now one of the worst in the world, including Africa, which we used to lead, when it comes to the quality of our matric, abilty of our learners to write, do maths, etc. A matriculant who passes with a 35 % in SA is not employable.
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Aug 15, 2012

RobinH

Oldlady. It is said that medical facilities and training in Cuba are excellent. Of the top worldwide. I have no problem with this, just as I had no problem with the deployment of Cuban doctors in our state hospitals - although language was an issue and interpreters were frequently required. At one stage our institutions were flooded with students from Europe, as tuition costs here were much lower. I think that has ended. The other issue to consider is that vast numbers of students qualify here and head overseas immediately to the lands of milk and honey. So the gap needs to be filled.
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Aug 15, 2012

OLDLADY4

RobinH, I would have had the same ????? if I read America. I hear you, but if so many of our qualified medical students head overseas, the same question remains.....what happened? Why don't they stay here?
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Aug 15, 2012

RobinH

oldlady MONEY!
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