Eastern Cape Department of Transport and SANRAL take career expo to Cofimvaba

Investment in education was highlighted as one of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited’s (SANRAL) strategic considerations during a career expo that took place at the Cofimvaba Senior Secondary School yesterday (Tuesday, 30 July).

Attended by more than 1 500 Grade 7 to 12 learners from schools from around the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality, the career expo was a joint initiative between the Eastern Cape Department of Transport and SANRAL to expose learners in rural and remote schools to careers in the transport sector.

“SANRAL is cognisant that access to information remains a major challenge in our rural and township schools, therefore platforms such as these are an instrumental solution,” said Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL’s Regional Stakeholder Coordinator.

Ndika also spoke of SANRAL’s scholarship and bursary programmes which are intended to offer financial assistance to academically deserving and financially constrained learners, applications for which will be open until the end of September.

The career expo was used to encourage learners to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related careers as the country continues to have a major skills gap in these fields.

Giving words of encouragement to the learners, the motivational speaker for the day, entrepreneur, business mentor, author and menstrual coach, Babalwa Mbuku, said, “There is nothing impossible in life. You need to commit yourself in life because you are your own prophet, you’ll be what you want to be if you commit to it. Two years ago, I went back to school and I graduated this year. I’m now the CEO of my own company.”

Buyiswa Bungu, representing the Eastern Cape Department of Transport said, “We see growth especially in aviation studies, by doing these expos, learners get exposure to the fields. Every year we get higher numbers of applications for bursaries towards pilot training. There is more interest in recent years towards aviation, maritime and architectural studies.”

Bafo Yotsi, Acting Circuit Manager from the Department of Education, was full of praise for the science programme introduced to schools. “We have scores of learners from Cofimvaba who excelled in Maths and Science and have taken part in expos. We are excited when our children get exposed to careers as future leaders because if you don’t get the right skills, others will snatch this country and run it. We already have those indicators.” 

Exhibitors opened their stalls to sell their organisations on how learners can access information to help them mould their future. Almost all exhibitors stressed the importance of getting high entry marks for acceptance at tertiary level.

Walter Sisulu University Marketing and Communications Officer, Mandlakazi Kekezwa says this year learners know a lot about career choices. “I suppose they get more information from the radio, schools and internet. We also do school visits, career expos and in August we have an Open Day where we will invite learners to our campuses,” said Kekezwa.

Learners participated in a quiz competition and won individual prizes and prize money for their schools.

“It is always fun to test the learners’ general knowledge but to also rewarding and a confidence booster for them to win prizes for their schools,” said Ndika.

Participating schools included Cofimvaba Senior Secondary School, Isikhoba Primary School, Lungile Primary School, Wodehouse Primary School and Mahlubini Primary School.