The Eastern Cape Department of Education in partnership with The Department of Public works hosted a Career Expo at the Bele Zingcuka Technical College Decant classes in Tsolo, OR Tambo Inland District.

About 300 pupils from Bel eZingcuka Technical School, Bele Primary School and St Cuthbert’s Senior Secondary School attended the career expo, meant to show cast different career options to young pupils in the Rural District from various invited sister departments, namely Department of Health, Department of Labour, South African Police Services Forensic division and many more.

Public works Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko encouraged pupils to pursue careers in construction. “The government is building schools, hospitals, clinics and sports fields and that is where engineers and architects will be needed,” said Nhleko. “The built environment has lots of opportunities for young people because there is always work to be done in that sector, therefore this career expo seeks to provide information about the pupils’ careers choices, as well as the bursaries and internship programmes we offer.”

Mjikelo Mnge, the Bele Zingcuka Technical School Principal gave the Minister a very warm welcome and hoped that this would not be his last to the rural area.  He further said that the Technical College has 277 pupils from Grade 8 to 12 for the year 2018 and offers subjects like Civil technology, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Technology. Zingcuka explained that the school equip pupils will skills whilst still at a younger age and give young-ones direction for better career options and to be able to be employers then being employed.  He also said that, “The school matric pass rate has dropped from 63% in 2016 to 43.6% in 2017 due to redeployment of teachers, not enough resources”. “For example we do not have a Mathematics teacher, he was redeployed recently and we would like the ECDoE to assist on employing one for us”. Another challenge that they are facing is the issue of burglary due to poor fencing, he said that computers and other machinery have been stolen from the school and ask the department to assist them.  

Bele Zingcuka pupil Yamkela Ndzangasaid “privileged to be part of this expo, I have a better knowledge about different careers but mostly interested in the Public Works Capacity Building Programmes”. The grade 12 pupil is doing Civil Technology but the challenge is that the school does not have proper practical facilities therefore he would be delighted if the Department of Education can provide one for them.Whilst Zozibini Tsawe said “I have been very passionate working with electrical work at a younger age, therefore the school has given have the skill to acquire my dreams for becoming a professional electrician”.