With the curtain set to come down on the current academic year, matriculants from different high schools around Khayelitsha gathered at Matthew Goniwe Memorial High School in Site B on Friday 9 September for careers exhibition programme.
The event was organised by the Western Cape Department of Health to help learners to make informed decisions about their career choices.
Grade 11 and 12 learners attended the event.
Various government departments including Correctional Services, the City of Cape Town, Ikamva Youth, College of Cape Town, University of Cape Town (UCT), Emthonjeni Counselling and Training, Eazyrides, Government Communication and Information System among others attended the gathering.
Neshaan Peton, Deputy Director for Comprehensive Health Programmes, Khayelitsha/Eastern Substructure, described the event as a platform for learners to meet people to assist them in making informed decisions about their careers. She described the event as part of taking the services to the people.
“What is important is for learners to ask questions about any courses that they are interested in or want to know about. And learners need to know that not only universities are designated for higher learning, there are other institutions like Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges which are also available,” she explained.
The communications manager at Pollsmoor prison, Mkhanyisi Sphendu urged learners to apply to the department citing that there are many other portfolios within the department.
“People think that our department is about correctional officials who are looking after inmates only. We have carpenters, doctors, nurses, psychologists, seamstresses, social workers, agricultural specialists etc. We want people who are dedicated and willing to contribute to make a safer country. Our intention is to create a safe country,” said Sphendu.
He stated that the department was there to amend people’s lives.
Nomvuselelo Fuzile, a teacher from Matthew Goniwe, hailed the event as a motivation for learners. She said it would motivate learners to work hard to meet the requirements for the admission at higher learning institutions.
Fuzile reiterated Peton’s sentiments for people to stop underestimating the TVET colleges.
Grade 12 learner from Bulumko Anisa Ntsana (17) described the expo as helpful and informative.
“Events like this help the learners to choose a right course because some of us are not fully informed about other courses. Now, we have time to ask questions. And we will be able to know which subjects are needed for certain courses,” said Ntsana.