The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL), in partnership with the Chris Hani East Education District office and the University of Fort Hare, hosted a career and science expo to showcase career and bursary opportunities to high school learners in the Chris Hani District Municipality.
The career and science expo took place on Wednesday in eNgcobo located in the Chris Hani District Municipality. There were approximately 500 learners who attended from 48 rural schools.
SANRAL also used the expo as an opportunity to share information about its Technical Excellence Academy (TEA) and the opportunities it offers to various engineering faculties nationwide, as well as it’s Innovation Hub, which provides a unique platform for addressing the key challenges of rapidly evolving smart road technologies and global innovation.
Lwazi Nzolokohla a grade 12 learner at A.M. Zantsi High School in Cala says he wants to be a doctor. “My mother died when I was very small. I want to save lives one day,” said Nzolokohla.
His favourite subjects are maths and physical science.
“The expo has exposed me to various opportunities out there to pursue in the maths and science field. Our high school is in the rural area and there is a lack of resources. What we are taught in school theoretically, we got to see practically today,” he said.
Nzolokohla also motivates learners to study hard because “to get good marks in maths and physical science requires a lot of hard work and practice.”
Esethu Bonga, a grade 12 learner at Manzana Senior Secondary School in Engcobo, either wants to pursue a career as a forensic pathologist or a civil engineer.
“Where I live there are no bridges and crossing the river in Manzana village is not easy for children especially when there is heavy rain. I want to build bridges one day, especially a bridge that crosses that river. I also love life sciences and think forensic pathology will be a good career choice,” said Bonga.
Bonga said the expo was a good platform for learners to learn about various career options that are available in the field of maths and science.
“In addition to our distinct mandate of financing, improving, managing, and maintaining the national road network, SANRAL also offers bursary and scholarship programmes to assist high school learners to study further in their chosen fields of choice. I want to encourage all of you take up these opportunities.
“If you achieve an overall aggregate 60% and above on your studies, you are eligible to apply for a scholarship at SANRAL. Our bursary programme, on the other hand, benefits students who want to study towards other fields such as legal, finance and human resources, and not just civil engineering,” says Welekazi Ndika, stakeholder coordinator for SANRAL’s southern region office.
Siphiwo Mxhosa, SANRAL’s stakeholder relations manager, echoes Ndika’s sentiment that SANRAL is not just about building roads.
“The roads that we build provide unique opportunities for learners, especially those from disadvantaged communities. We want our children to see, for example, the building of two mega bridges between mountains, right here in the Eastern Cape. This will stimulate them to pursue careers in engineering, environmental studies and other relevant programmes,” he said, referring to the multi-billion Rand Msikaba and Mtentu bridges that SANRAL is currently constructing as part of the N2 Wild Coast Road Project.
Expressing his word of support, Dr Soyisile Nuku, the Eastern Cape Department of Education acting superintendent general, said that through the expo, Chris Hani District’s learners will be assisted into making informed career choices. He encouraged SANRAL and its partners to host similar expos in other parts of the province.
“As a department, our determination is to see this expo succeed, and this can happen through partnerships that we build, even possibly making this an annual province wide event,” he said.