Over 20 000 high school learners visited by Deputy Minister Manana during his 2015 Apply Now/Khetha Career Guidance Campaign
Today, the 16th of September 2015, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Mduduzi Manana, MP, concluded the 2015 Apply Now/Khetha Career Guidance Campaign by visiting two schools in Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape Province. The Deputy Minister launched the campaign at the University of Johannesburg, at the gate where a mother died in a stampede in 2012 whilst accompanying her son to submit a late application.
The gate has since been named after the mother Mrs Gloria Sekwena and it is now known as the Gloria Sekwena Gate. Since the launch in 2015, the campaign has been rolled out in all provinces targeting rural and township high schools. During this period, over 20 000 learners from 27 high schools were reached, nationally.
The Apply Now Campaign:
Deputy Minister Manana, accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, Cllr JP Mdingi interacted with Grade 8 to 12 learners at Vulindlela Senior Secondary School and Hillbrow Senior Secondary School. He outlined the Apply Now/Khetha Career Guidance Campaign which is aimed at encouraging learners to apply on time for admission to post-school institutions and thus avert possible stampedes and long queues that take place at the beginning of each academic year. The Career Guidance component of the campaign seeks to inform learners about career choices available within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.
As stated above, the campaign was initiated by the Department of Higher Education and Training following the unfortunate incident that happened at the University of Johannesburg in 2012 where a mother died in a stampede whilst accompanying her child to submit a late application.
The Apply Now Campaign runs from March to September, across the country to assist learners to make informed choices when applying to institutions of higher learning. It also seeks to inform learners about things to look out for when choosing their institutions of higher learning to avert being conned by unregistered and bogus colleges who offer them unaccredited qualifications.
TVET Colleges:
The Deputy Minister encouraged learners to consider Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges as an alternative to universities because the skills needs of the country necessitate massive production of artisans from TVET colleges.
The 100 Occupations in High Demand:
The Deputy Minister had a conversation with more than 1 500 learners from Grade 8 to 12 in the two rural schools of Lusikisiki and further promoted the list of “100 Occupations in High Demand” that was released by the Minister of Higher Education and Training in 2014. This will assist learners to make informed career choices to avoid a situation where they too join a cohort of unemployed and unemployable graduates.
NSFAS:
Deputy Minister Manana informed learners about the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) which is aimed at assisting poor yet deserving students to further their studies within the post-school sector. NSFAS has to date assisted more than 1.5 million beneficiaries who have since joined the ranks of the black middle class. NSFAS interacted with learners during the Deputy Minister’s visit.
SETAs:
The Deputy Minister informed learners that there are currently 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) which are responsible for learnerships and other training opportunities for learners who cannot pursue further education and training.
Learner Representative Council:
Members of the Learner Representative Councils in both schools said, ‘we thank the Deputy Minister for having taken time off his busy schedule to come to our rural areas to impart information that all of us will benefit from. There is no reason for any one of us to be found wanting in January 2016 – let us all apply now’.
Career Development Services:
The Department of Higher Education and Training currently runs a Career Development Services Centre to assist learners with career advice. The Deputy Minister encouraged learners to use their cell phones to reach the Centre as follows:
SMS or “Please Call Me”: 072 204 5056
Telephone: 086 999 0123
E-mail: careerhelp@dhet.gov.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/careerhelp
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rsacareerhelp
Website: www.careerhelp.org.za
National Career Advice Portal: http://ncap.careerhelp.org.za
Walk-in Center: 123 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria
For further information and to schedule interviews, please contact:
Busiswa Nongogo
Cell: 061 351 2695
E-mail: nongogo.b@dhet.gov.za
Calvin Nkosi
Cell: 084 739 5468
E-mail: nkosi.c@dhet.gov.za
