Minister encourages girls to become scientists

By Khanyisa Tabata
24 August 2009

Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor has called on interventions to ensure that women study to become scientist and that they are able to progress through the system.

She was speaking at the South African Women in Science Awards in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Pandor said girls and women were not supposed to be good at maths or science. She said boys usually do better, because they are encouraged to better.

She said women students in scarce skills faculties and schools need focussed support and mentoring.

She said while many of these initiatives were aimed at young researchers in general, they must include a focus on attracting women to take up these programmes.

The National Advisory Council on Innovation has a committee focusing on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology and the National Research Foundation runs Women in Research Programme.

The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers small grants to undergraduates who have research potential and are in their third or fourth year of study, to learn about research by providing research assistance to experienced academics in their field.