16 Aug 2016

There is need to invest in science and technology to resolve complex problems of today’s world, says the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology Mr Nonofo Molefhi.

Officially opening the Science Technology and Innovation week in Palapye on August 15, Mr Molefhi said the country needs to improve on key indicators such as the current expenditure on education, percentage of graduates in science and engineering, researchers  headcount per million people, gross expenditure on research, percentage of research and development performed by business, local application for intellectual property protection such as patents and production of scientific and technical publications.

He said countries such as Korea and Finland spend at least four per cent of their Gross Domestic Product on research and development.

Mr Molefhi further said Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers facilitate the resolving of complex problems of today’s world such as global warming, cancer, third world hunger and disappearing habitants.

“We should invest in our technology entrepreneurs and innovators to be able to resolve local problems with local solutions,” he said.

Currently, he said most STEM related jobs are outsourced whilst the nation complain about lack of jobs. 

He said since the country’s population was skewed towards the youthful age, there was need to develop relevant skills to prepare them for employment in requisite professions, adding “conditions for nurturing an innovative mindset and facilitating STEM competencies must be established in primary and secondary schools and at advanced universities.”

Mr Molefhi, who is also MP for Selibe Phikwe East said globally countries were repositioning themselves to cash in from harnessing science and technology.

He said countries that were excelling in technology developments continued to nurture children and young people’s interest in science and technology, stating that investment in promotion of science at a tender age had boosted scientific literacy amongst the youth in such countries.

In addition, he said this country needed to encourage innovation and creativity all round through supervising short term science programs, mentoring the girl child and being role models, jointly making research promotion reports and instructing youth science clubs to spark interest, build confidence and enhance aptitude for mathematics and science related disciplines.

He commended SADC member states for deciding on the initiative of the Science Technology and Innovation Week in 2008.

“As more countries join in this activity, we have hope that we shall all benefit from the economies of scale in terms of knowledge dissemination,” he said.

He said this country had been putting up structures and instruments for promotion and support of research, science, technology and innovation.

For his part, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Mr Moiseraele Goya and also the area MP commended Mr Molefhi for his keen leadership of the ministry whose portfolio includes delivering infrastructure, science and technology for this country.

He said Palapye has all the hallmarks of an industrial city in the making, adding that indstrialisation was fuelled and energised by science, technology and innovation.

“It is my wish to see infrastructure development and planting of that seed of science and technology taking heed of the developmental pattern of Palapye.”

Mr Goya said he ‘supports the 2011 Research Science Technology and Innovation Policy that intends to achieve an increased national capacity for economic growth through research, infusion of indigenous knowledge in the national research and development agenda to improve the quality of life.’

“It also aspires that the country will be an informed society that has research, science, technology and innovation as its way of life,” he said.

The day was held under the theme Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-our future diamond. ENDS