Members of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) left three Senior Secondary Schools in Willowvale smiling, after winning three prizes during a Career Expo that was held at Dumalisile Comprehensive High School in Willowvale recently.
According to the principal of Xolilizwe Senior Secondary School, Andile Bam, his school won R50 000, which was the competition’s first prize.
Ntlahlane Senior Secondary School won the second prize, R20 000, and Mathumbu Senior Secondary School went home with R10 000.
“Our learners are very brilliant; they always do research, which is why it is always easy for them to come up with good answers. When it comes to the career expo, we were so lucky because this year they (learners) did not get enough chance to attend these events, because they are staying at school. This was a good chance for them. Now at least they will know what they can do as they are preparing for the future.”
According to the SANRAL regional manager for the Southern Region, Mbulelo Peterson, the career and Science Expo is part of SANRAL’s investment in education and young people, which exposes rural learners to stimulating opportunities in engineering and STEM-related careers, as well as careers in general.
He said that the career exhibitions are to highlight and increase interest in the different possible careers, exposing township and rural learners to what is available – including a fairly narrow band of STEM-related careers.
“Willowvale, being a rural area surrounded by remote villages, fits the profile of the rural and township schools targeted by our programme. Around 700 learners from schools within the Mbhashe Local Municipality attended this career expo. These schools included Dumalisile Comprehensive High School, Xolilizwe Senior Secondary School, Nakazana High School, Badi Senior Secondary School, Ntlahlane Primary School and Hlabizulu Primary School,” said Peterson.
He added that in the current financial year, SANRAL in the Southern Region (Eastern Cape) has hosted three career expos in three districts: OR Tambo District Municipality (at Ingquza Hill Local Municipality), Alfred Nzo District Municipality (at Matatiele Local Municipality) and in the Amathole District Municipality (at Mbhashe Local Municipality).
According to him, in the previous financial year (2022/23), SANRAL in the Southern Region hosted career expos in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality at Senqu Local Municipality, in the OR Tambo District Municipality at King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality and in the Chris Hani District Municipality at Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality.
“In the next financial year, a budget will be set aside to take the career expo to more municipalities, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to information continues to be a challenge.
The SANRAL career expo roadshow in the Southern Region has been concluded for the current financial year. The programme will resume in the new financial year, and target municipalities that have not yet been visited over the years of the programme.”
