Officials from Exhibition For A Child, a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in the Eastern Cape, hosted a two-day career expo with the aim of equipping learners about careers they could pursue when they pass Grade 12.
This exhibition was held at Dan’s Country Lodge in Libode, last week.
The marketing intern for Exhibition for A Child, Akhonke Chutu, said that this event has been a great success over the past two years and an information-sharing platform the learners look forward to get as they prepare for their future.
She confirmed that there were 11 schools that attended this expo.
“We want them to have an idea, and to know how to apply for, those careers they choose to do. To ensure that we bring all the information they need, we also invited various institutions, including banks and the desk of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
“They will assist by sharing their information so that these learners can go home with all the information they need,” said Chutu.
She added that they started this event three years ago after they noticed that some of the learners did not have enough information about what they should do when attending tertiary institutions.
“Some of them are struggling because data is very expensive and not all of them can manage to get it, especially those who are coming from rural areas.”
MEC for the Department of Education, Fundile Gade, said most of the time when learners are admitted to Grade 1 numbers are large, but as the years go by the numbers decrease.
He said this should be considered because it is one of the problems that lead to people ending up depending on social grants.
He added that some of the challenges that the children will face is to have certificates that do not help them in future.
He said they thank those who assist learners by hosting these career expos in order to open their minds.
