DUT’s Co-Operative Education in association with Wholesale and Retail SETA (W&RSETA) hosted a career exhibition at the Ritson Hall, DUT Ritson Campus, yesterday (Wednesday, 20 February 2013).

The event aimed to enlighten matric pupils about the shortage of young skilled professionals in the wholesale and retail sector. The event was attended by pupils and teachers from schools including Ntee High School, Pinetown, Umlazi ComTech, Umlazi, Velabahleke High School, Umlazi, Elangeni FET College, Pinetown, and Bechet Secondary, Sydenham.

Speaking about the event, W&RSETA’s Marketing and Communications Executive Manager Sindiso Malaku said the organisation wanted to create awareness about careers in the sector as well as to talk about opportunities in the sector and promote various qualifications and programmes in the sector.
“The wholesale and retail sector is an ageing sector; the majority of people working in the sector have been there for more than ten years. That is why we work with the Department of Education provincially and local governments to identify schools that will attend the programmes. We have shortages of accountants, retail managers, sales and marketing managers, human resource practitioners, etc. We also give bursaries to needy students studying retail related qualifications in fields that are in demand at any of the public universities, universities of technology and FET colleges in South Africa,” he said.

Malaku said the bursary scheme covers costs of tuition, books, accommodation and meals for the duration of the programme. “This is not just a normal bursary scheme which only funds students but ensures theoretical learning is also integrated with workplace training to allow the students to apply theory in a real workplace environment during of the programme. The SETA sponsors companies to employ learners for a maximum period of twelve months and also encourages companies to employ these graduates on a permanent basis,” he said.

Speaking about the programme, Mzuvelo High School teacher Nolwandle Mbatha said the programme is helpful because it educates pupils and teachers about careers that are in demand in the country.

Siyamdumisa Silangwe, Mzuvelo High School pupil said he was ecstatic about the event. “I now know about the availability of student financial aid which is offered through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and bursaries. They will help me in chasing my dream of becoming an accountant”, he said.

Sipho Mkhize, DUT Central Housing Council President and Public Relations BTech student (at DUT) said it is their responsibility as leaders to educate pupils about careers, financial aid and bursaries as well as to encourage them to choose careers that they passionate about. “Don’t choose a career because it has been chosen by your friends. This leads to high failure and drop-out rates and expulsion at universities”, he said.

– Nkosinathi Wanda

Pictured: Wholesale and Retail SETA Regional Manager Declan Lawson addresses pupils during yesterday’s (Wednesday, 20 February 2013) career exhibition which was hosted by the DUT Co-Operative Education Department in partnership with the Wholesale and Retail SETA. The event was held at the DUT Ritson Campus.