iafrica.com. Posted Mon,
28 May 2001
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Faith Gaza has criticised the national
government's plan to use Cuban teachers to train their South African partners in
maths and science.
Speaking at a community meeting in Mzinto near Port Shepstone, Gaza said: "These
Cuban teacher trainers will not be accepted in KZN because there are many
teachers here who are unemployed. Therefore there is no need to bring more
teachers into this province."
Education Minister Kader Asmal said earlier that the ministry was
negotiating with the Cuban government for about 40 to 50 Cubans to come to South
Africa to train science and maths teachers from next year. The Cubans would
speak English and would be deployed to rural areas and townships.
Asmal said it was only one element of the government's overall strategy to
improve science and maths education. The Cubans would be highly experienced.
All reports by staff writers/own correspondents/local and international
partners.
Related CubaNet links
April 2001 - Outrage at
'secret' draft of Cuban teachers / Independent Online
Cuban teachers will relieve shortages in
science and maths: Mbeki / ANC daily news briefing | 