A group of Grade 12 pupils from Soshanguve Technical College in Tshwane recently revealed a modified car. It took three months for the six Grade 12 pupils to turn a 2003 BMW T318 E46 hatchback into a mini bakkie. The innovation was launched by the Gauteng Department of Education last week.
According to Phaleng Scotch, Automotive Teacher, “The car was beyond repair when they bought it. We asked the pupils to come up with ideas on how to modify the car. They chose to turn it into a bakkie because BMW SA doesn’t have one”.
In partnership with the Department, BMW will provide pupils with all the experience they need. Furthermore, the car company will also hand over one of its first X3 models to the school for educational purposes. Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC said it is envisaged that SoS would equip learners with the skills and knowledge to give them the best chance of success in life.
The department has initiated the establishment of schools of specialization in automatization which will nurture talent in young people across key disciplines and develop the country’s future leaders. These schools of specialization are intended to respond to the skills shortage and unemployment crisis among the youth in the country.
