President Tsai visits Swaziland College of Technology
President Tsai Ing-wen visited the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) at 10:10 a.m. local time (4:10 p.m. Taipei time) on Wednesday, April 18.
Upon arrival, President Tsai toured the ICT Laboratory and the Programmable Logic Controller Laboratory of SCOT's ICT department to learn more about the educational situation. She then went to a conference hall for a briefing by the project manager, Ms. Lynn Wu (吳茹嵐), about the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Enhancement Project.
The following is a transcript of President Tsai's remarks:
I want to thank Lynn from Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) for her fine presentation and all the good work they have done here. Acting Prime Minister (Deputy Prime Minister) Paul Dlamini, Minister of Education and Training Phineas Magagula, Minister of Public Works and Transport Lindiwe Dlamini, I also want express my appreciation for your support for our bilateral cooperation. I had met Acting Principal Nhlengetfwa (Nomcebo M. Futfumele Nhlengetfwa, Acting Principal of SCOT) this morning. I am inspired by her vision for this college and for all of you. When I was walking around this place, I felt that this place is filled with promise for the future.
This is my first visit to Africa. I'm happy that my first visit took me here to Swaziland, at a time of celebration both for His Majesty the King and your entire country. It's a special time for Taiwan as well. Fifty years ago, when the late King first proclaimed the rebirth of a nation, he also established a friendship with Taiwan.
Over the past fifty years, Taiwan and Swaziland have become family—umndeni ("family" in Swazi). Throughout the years, through thick and thin, our two countries have been here for each other. It's a partnership not just between governments, but between institutions, organizations, and people. It's a partnership, where like family, we help each other. We do so because we genuinely want to see each other do better.
We know that His Majesty the King has implemented a National Development Strategy Vision. It aims to turn Swaziland into a first world country by 2022. As president, I want you to know that Taiwan is fully committed to supporting this policy. We will do everything we can to support Swaziland and improve the living standards of all people living across this country.
For Swaziland to progress, we know nothing is more important than education. Investing in Swaziland's next generation is investing in Swaziland. More educated young people means a greater propensity for innovation, creativity, and ultimately, economic growth. More educated young people means lower crime, healthier families, and better jobs.
Recognizing this, our ICDF has worked on vocational training programs here since 2011. In 2015, we also established the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Enhancement Project. The aim is simple: to provide more, and better skills training in areas that are absolutely essential in today's economy. So far, SCOT has been the main recipient of these efforts and we could not have found a more deserving institution.
Now, because this is such a great school and we do want more students to study here, I am proud to launch a new program today. This is a program that will give promising but underprivileged young people in Swaziland full scholarships to enter SCOT. In the first phase, we plan to have 100 openings for full three-year programs. Because, again, we know that enabling more people to achieve their full potential is key to Swaziland's future.
We will also be encouraging more Taiwanese educators to teach here, particularly in STEM courses, which are fields in high demand in Swaziland and across Africa.
This morning, I had a quick survey of the students here. They were being instructed by a teacher from National Tsing Hua University, and she was actually there. Would you stand up? And I had this opportunity to ask the students whether they like their teachers. They said, "Of course." And I asked whether you want your teachers to stay longer? They said, "Of course." Then I got this sense that they like their teachers. And we have another teacher, who is from here and spent some time in Taiwan and got her master's degree, and is now teaching here as well. And I can feel that she is very well liked by the students. I like that sort of feeling. So we will be encouraging more teachers from Taiwan to come here to have sort of same experience of what the culture and life is like here. At the same time they can work with the students here. Likewise, we welcome the young students here to try to make the best of the opportunity to continue your training or education in Taiwan. You're welcome.
While this marks the beginning of these programs, it is also a continuation of everything we have done at SCOT and in Swaziland over the past seven years.
As I look across the room, I see the potential of your young generation – people sitting there, not sitting in the front row. I must congratulate you, because Swaziland is a young country – one of the youngest in the world. Through education, all of you will have the capacity to decide your own future and the future development of this country. As you do so, you will always find Taiwan extending the hand of friendship and support. That deserves a round of applause.
In closing, I know that two Taiwanese companies – Acer and ASUS – have a special present for the Ministry of Education. I'm grateful to both these companies for providing equipment to the young people of Swaziland and for supporting Swaziland's future.
Thank you! Ngiyabonga Kakhulu! ("Thank you very much" in Swazi)
Afterwards, President Tsai witnessed a donation ceremony. Taiwan's Acer donated 100 tablet computers and ASUS Foundation donated 100 tablet computers and 100 notebook computers to the Swaziland government. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) made the donations on behalf of Taiwan, and Minister of Education and Training Phineas Magagula accepted them on behalf of Swaziland.
Also attending the donation ceremony were Swaziland officials: Acting Prime Minister Paul Dlamini, Minister of Public Works and Transport Lindiwe Dlamini, Acting Principal Secretary of Education and Training Sibongile M. Dlamini, Regional Administrator Prince Tshekedi and government officials of the Hhohho Region; and Taiwan officials: National Security Council Secretary-General David T. Lee (李大維), National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥), and ROC Ambassador to Swaziland Thomas J.C. Chen (陳經銓).