PASSLEY GARDENS, Portland:

THE COLLEGE of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) in Portland, on Wednesday hosted South Africa's minister of higher education and training, Dr Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande, who toured the facility and met with the college's administrators.

Nzimande, who was accompanied by a large delegation from the African continent, thanked the acting president of CASE, Dr Mary Nichols, and the new school board, headed by Ambassador Derrick Heaven, for the invitation and their hospitality, especially in the year when Jamaica is celebrating 50 years of Independence.

"We are interested in teacher education. Vocational training and the educating of teachers are areas that we want to explore," Nzimande commented.

"We need to know how it is that you acquire lecturers for the agricultural college. Do you have some (special) training, and do you keep them in a particular way? We would be more than interested in those kinds of things, and we are really looking forward to this exchange."

STRENGTHENING RELATIONS

Nzimande's visit was realised through an invitation from Education Minister Ronald Thwaites as part of that ministry's quest to strengthen relations with South Africa, especially in the areas of education, culture, customs, music, and training.

Nzimande pointed out that the visit was to deepen relations between the two countries in higher education as well as vocational education and training. Another purpose of the trip was to promote cooperation between respective institutions in South Africa (universities and colleges), which in the future could lead to more exchanges between staff and students from both sides.

Nzimande noted that the South African delegation was visiting Jamaica during its 50th anniversary of Independence, which has been 50 years of solidarity with the many struggles in his homeland.

"This visit is the first for me and my delegation. It is a trip that we have been looking forward to, and it is not the beginning of a relationship, but rather the continuation of a journey between us and the Jamaican people -a long journey that we have traveled - and from our side, the very dark days of apartheid saw the Jamaican people standing very firm on the side of justice and truth while making a major contribution towards our liberation," he said.

- Gareth Davis Sr