On behalf of the Portfolio Committee on Communication I am strongly in support of the notion of young learners being able to build small receivers and transmitters while teachers are encouraged, with the help of local radio amateurs, to set up full sized amateur radio stations at school clubs. In South Africa, we have a dire shortage of engineers and technicians. To address this shortage, the best strategy is to nurture an interest in technology in the formative stages of education. Experiential learning is the key to early development in technology-based careers. Amateur radio in the classroom can add this dimension to learning.
Amateur radio has a lot of history behind it.
The service has a vital role to play in the education of engineers and technologists in the field of telecommunications. It is important that the service attracts young people, especially from the previously disadvantaged communities. I have learned from your Web site about SARL's initiatives to take Amateur Radio to young people by introducing it in schools thus giving direct meaning to the ITU definition. I applaud the SARL as it prepares for a new learners license, based on a modular outcomes learning system. You would have been disappointed that when the policy directions mapping out the future of telecommunication in our country were introduced, amateur radio was not specifically mentioned.