Kalam's gift to Durban school

Fulfilling his promise, President A P J Abdul Kalam has sent a consignment of laboratory equipment worth $200,000 (about Rs 93,00,000) to a high school in a poor black residential area in Durban.

The President had promised to provide the Menzi High School in the township of Umlazi with science equipment when he visited the institution during his state visit to the country in 2004.

Outgoing Indian Consul General Ajay Swarup handed over the science equipment at an offical ceremony on Thursday during which the school principal Felix Mshololo, Education Minister in KwaZulu-Natal province Ina Cronje and hundreds of local leaders and school students were present.

Acknowledging the gesture of President Kalam, the school principal said he and his school pupils were very grateful for the science equipment. "We will now do everything in our power to ensure that the pass rate improves in our school. We are ever grateful to President Kalam and the government of India for this wonderful gesture," Mshololo said. 

The provincial Education Minister Ina Cronje said the gesture cemented the partnership between her department and India and she hoped that the relationship would continue for the benefit of learners in the province and countrywide.

"The relations between India and South Africa are very strong and we know that this will continue to promote the interests of our people in India and South Africa," she said.

Swarup told the gathering that South Africa and India would shortly be embarking on an exchange programme for students. "All those in the business of supplying text books, science kits and other requirements for learners in South Africa should join hands with their counterparts in India to make the supplies more affordable to students", Swarup said.