Grade twelve pupils from Ilanga Secondary High School in Kwadabeka, Clairmont visited the DUT Faculty of Arts and Design yesterday, 4 June 2012 at the DUT City Campus.
The trip formed part of the Faculty’s Adopt-a-School project; a community engagement initiative aimed at offering career guidance to matric pupils. Ilanga Secondary School is the first to benefit from this initiative.
Upon discussing factors hindering pupils from the school pupils from performing exceptionally in their studies; low morale, finance related problems at home and the lack of knowledge about available funding in higher education institutions topped the list.
DUT and Ilanga High School saw it befitting to plan an excursion of this kind to introduce the prospective tertiary students to a university environment as well as to awaken them to an array of study opportunities available at DUT. Also important was to motivate the pupils to apply themselves to their studies in order to improve the matric pass rate at the school.
After a formal welcome by Dr Kenneth Netshiombo, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, the pupils were informed about financial aid services and later toured around the City Campus attending brief presentations prepared by all the departments within the Faculty.
Professor Graham Stewart thanked all those who made the project a success. To the pupils he said: “I hope this was a valuable experience for you. Please follow up on all the information shared with you today.”
One of the pupils, Nhlanhla Chiya (20) had initially wanted to pursue a career in education. “I did not know that there were so many career opportunities. I am really interested in journalism, drama and video technology. This visit was beneficial; I will let all my other friends know about all I learnt here today,” he said.
Another pupil, Sindiswa Tshabalala, 18, was not considering to study at DUT initially but she confirmed that she will be applying to the University. The trip boosted her interested in DUT so much that she promised to study harder in order to qualify for the courses she intends to study at DUT.
Caption: Matric pupils from Ilanga Secondary High School elated after a productive day at DUT.
