LEARNERS from different high schools in Ngcobo got much needed exposure to various careers, especially those in the engineering field, during a career expo held at Nyanga High School last week, February 16.
The expo was hosted by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, in partnership with Chief Pokwana Royal House and Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
The initiative came about after the Chief Pokwana Royal House wrote to the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in December last year, expressing the need to expose rural learners to different careers that they can pursue at tertiary institutions after completing their matric studies.
“Education is a fundamental key to success; therefore it is crucial to have all the right tools and information to acquire it. The department always endeavours to do its bit in adding value to the academic needs of learners, by offering a variety of bursary options one may potentially seek to further their studies,” said Eastern Cape Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Ntombovuyo Nkopane.
“As the department, we also seek to bridge the gap and reach areas where information of this nature is not easily accessible. Automatically, after learners have received our bursaries for tertiary education, a learner is afforded an opportunity to work for the department in their respective field of study,” added Nkopane.
Nkopane further donated 100 scientific calculators to learners of Nyanga SSS, to motivate those learners doing maths and science who are prospective bursary holders for the department.
The calculators will remain the property of the school.
Destitute learners were also assisted with school shoes donated by the department and other exhibitors at the career expo.
Speaking during the career expo, Fezile Mantiyane, from the WSU admissions office, stressed the importance of applying to study in tertiary institutions in time, and doing thorough research on one’s career choice.
Mantiyane further cautioned learners that meeting the minimum requirements for entry to the course one applies for does not guarantee admission to that course.
“Crafting a bright future for our children is a collective responsibility of social partners, the business community and government. The time has come for society to stop being bystanders on the matter of the education of our children; we all need to take a leading role.
“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm of both the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and Walter Sisulu University and we are most humbled by the agreement, in principle, that this career expo must revolve around the province especially in underprivileged areas, and that ideally, it must not be held annually but quarterly,” said Chief Jongisilo Pokwana of the Pokwana Royal House.
Over 40 exhibitors participated in the career expo.
