Lack of funds threatens closure of RB maritime school

TERRY HUTSON
DECISION DAY is fast approaching for the Tisand Technical High School near Richards Bay, where maritime studies is offered as part of the matric curriculum but faces closure due to a lack of funding.
Since its formation during the 1990s, all expenses for the courses were covered by sponsorship from the National Ports Authority. As has been highlighted in FTW previously this has been under strain during the past year or so, with the two teachers of maritime studies going unpaid for much of 2004.
Since then and following a number of meetings, the NPA has pledged an amount per annum until 2007 but with a rider that this must not be used to pay any salaries (how do you learn without a teacher?).
Additional commitments towards this shortfall have been received from two foreign-owned shipping companies, Norway’s Odfjell and Germany’s MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping, which both operate in South Africa. But the likelihood of the school being able to continue without teachers now depends on further support being received from the maritime industry. If not forthcoming then the courses will have to stop.
Tisand is one of three schools offering maritime studies in South Africa and is the only one that caters for a fully black scholarship, drawn mainly from the neighbouring township outside Richards Bay.