Willowvale was a buss last week as the Eastern Cape Department of Education held a two day Careers Expo at the Willowvale Sports Ground, 30 kilometers from Idutywa.

This career’s Expo forms part of a series of Career exhibitions across the province and rural Willowvale also benefited on this drive.  The Career’s Expo organizer, who is also the department’s Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Mzwandile Mampunye thanked the attending schools for their co-operation.

“The honourable Mandla Makupula saw it fit that learners, of Willowvale just like any other learners from the province, must also benefit in initiatives of this nature. These learners should get as much information as they can to boost their knowledge about their career choices when they exit high school”, said Mampunye.

According to Mampunye, the department has invited sister departments, private sectors, Universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges to come and exhibit at this careers expo. “We have the Department of Health, Nelson Mandela University, Old Mutual just to name a few amongst other institutions that have been invited and have honoured these invitations. These institutions are here to advise on what these learners can do to further their studies”, continued Mampunye. 

When asked, if the department only concentrates on certain learners, Mampunye said ‘the department together with the Office of the Premier, will travel across the province to try and give as much information as possible to these leaders of tomorrow.  In addition, the department has also invited out of school youth, especially those who have completed their Grade 12’.

Xolilizwe Senior Secondary School educator, Momeleli Mbombo was also present at the expo said, “This is a lifetime chance for the learners as they will be exposed to various opportunities that are out there”.

He also added that the department needs to do more of these for the teachers and learners of the province. “Many learners do not know what they want to do when they finish studying grade 12, but as teachers we encourage them to study and follow their dreams, but we cannot do it alone. On top of what the department is doing for these learners, teachers also need incentives as they are more than just teachers to their learners. In most cases teachers find themselves in positions of being counsellors to their learners as these children (learners) are faced with so many challenges outside school.  Maybe the Department can include the sister departments more on the daily lives of the learners.  These will help teachers to help the learners” said Mbombo.

As an exhibitor at the Expo. Mlungiseleli Ncapayi, ECDoE Human Resource Funza Lushaka Coordinator, highlighted a few things that the department has been doing in order to help bring the resources to the community of the Eastern Cape. “These roadshows help bring information to the communities about the Funza Lushaka Bursary opportunities” 
He also added that these sessions entail providing prospective students with more information about the scheme. “The roadshows were encouraging learners to opt for teaching careers, while that is the case also bridge the gap of teacher shortages in the province. Additionally, this will at the same time, by skilling these learners the department is trying to address the poverty gap”, said Ncapayi

Attending this expo was Bhadi Senior Secondary school learner, Fefekazi Nxosani. The 20-year-old, Grade 12 learner came to expose herself on the available information at the expo. “I want to study and become a lawyer one day, that’s why I am here to get as much information as I can on how to apply at the university, how to get a bursary to further my studies as I cannot afford Varsity with both my parents not working,” said Nxosani. 

Nxosani also added that this was a great opportunity for her and her peers. “ With my acquired information here, I now have knowledge about each career path I am interested in, and what skill it will equip me with, hence this expo is the first step towards achieving my dreams”, concluded Nxosani.