MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works, Thandiswa Marawu has called upon 43 Air School to vigorously embark on outreach programmes in order expose the provincial youth to opportunities within the aviation industry.
MEC was addressing aviation authorities and officials during opening of the 43 Air school Air Traffic Control Training Centre at Port Alfred. She advised the school to host open days to allow learner to come to the new centre to get insight about aviation.
"Such an initiative will go a long way in improving the implementation of strategic skills programme and in building partnership for skills development as required by the economy," said Marawu.
She informed the house that currently the department has two students here at 43 Air School and "our goal is to have a significant number of the Eastern Cape youth as pilots, instructors, Captains and air traffic controllers in a few years to come".
"A particular focus should be given to girl children in order to deal with the social stereotype that reduces young women, especially Africans, as servers of refreshments inside aeroplanes," added MEC.
She indicated that Air Traffic controllers are well paid professionals, who can generate more than a million rand within a year.
"This is an opportunity that the children of this province cannot afford to miss," she emphasised.
Source: Eastern Cape Transport
