"Industry in South Africa has much to gain by supporting radio amateurs to take communication technology into the schools", SARL's Hans van de Groenendaal said at a seminar arranged by the Professional Mobile Radio Association (PMRA) as part of the mobile radio expo. The expo was held at the Kyalami Conference and Exhibition Centre recently.
"If South Africa is to become technology sufficient, we need to start at school level to give young people opportunities to experience technology. Amateur radio is an activity that promotes hands-on experience in communication technology while also developing social and communication skills", he said.
The South African Radio League (SARL), the national society for amateur radio, has developed a new entry level into amateur radio based on a modular approach. The organisation has worked closely with ICASA to develop an Amateur Radio Learners Licence. At an early stage in their school career, learners will be able to learn about communication technology while constructing a small radio receiver and transmitter and studying radio wave propagation and antennas, says van de Groenendaal. This is a 13-part module that will qualify them for the entry level licence and create opportunities to communicate with schools on a worldwide basis.
According to Hans Potgieter, SARL President, the new licence will be promulgated soon, in good time for the start of the 2002 school year.
"We will work on the basis of first educating the educators, so that they can take amateur radio into their classrooms. The SARL is also developing a mentorship programme aimed at equipping established radio amateurs to support teachers and youth leaders", van de Groenendaal said.
Amateur radio is playing an important part in the development of radio communication particularly on the digital communication and satellite front. Radio amateurs pioneered the low earth orbit satellites now becoming so popular in the provision of worldwide personal and cellphone communication. Short-wave communication is making a comeback in a digital format with worldwide communication possible using low-power transmitters and small antennas.
"We however need financial support for our school programmes and urge industry to join the SARL as sponsor members and to adopt local schools thereby providing the necessary funding and support", he added.
For further information see www.sarl.org.za, e-mail: [email protected], or contact Hans van de Groenendaal (012) 311 7114.
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