High school learners in the Theewaterskloof Municipal District got a glimpse of what the future holds at a Career Expo hosted by the Speaker of the Theewaterskloof Municipality’s office and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) partners.
Government agencies, private companies, tertiary institutions, and industry leaders all participated in the expo, showcasing various career opportunities in different sectors. The expo was held over three days in Villiersdorp, Caledon and Grabouw.
Some of the schools that attended the Career Expo included Groenberg Secondary School, De Rust Futura, Umyezo Secondary School, Grabouw High, Bissetsdrift School, Villiersdorp Secondary and De Villiers Graaff High.
The Services Seta’s main function is to facilitate skills development through learnership programmes, skills programmes, internships and other learning programmes. This is done by disbursing grants to employers and skills development providers to offer training to employed and unemployed learners. The Services Seta’s role also includes overseeing occupation-based training.
In his address, the Speaker, Derick Appel, expressed his joy at hosting the event: “This is a first for us in Theewaterskloof Municipality, and my office would like to thank all of you sincerely for your awesome contributions and having made this day possible.”
The Speaker added that hosting the Career Expo is very important because the country has a very high rate of unemployed young people.
“Youth without skills or further education that will make them employable, is not desirable for any nation. The reality is also that not all of our students will strive towards or achieve a university degree, and therefore this Career Expo with the Services Seta is so vitally important to showcase other opportunities available to our young people.
“The Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions (TVETs) and the Setas make it possible for our young people, who are not going to university, to equip themselves by developing technical skills to become different kinds of artisans.
“In the famous words of our late former President Nelson Mandela, ‘No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated’.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Appel, who urged the students to embrace all opportunities available to them, added: “Remember, your future is in your hands, be the architect of your own future and don’t leave it up to someone else. Now it is up to you to work hard, study and be the best version of yourself.”
