DUT’s Student Representative Council (SRC), in conjunction with the Harry Gwala District, Umzimkhulu, and the Greater Kokstad Municipality, held a successful careers expo on Saturday, 20 June 2015.
The careers expo was the first to be held in Zone 1 under the Harry Gwala District. The expo comes from after Mqondisi Duma, the DUT SRC President, approached the district municipality with a proposal detailing how he struggled to decide on a career to pursue after high school and at which university. Duma, who is from Umzimkhulu, said after he realised that he was not the only student who had encountered this dilemma, he, along with the rest of the, SRC proposed to the three municipalities and libraries in the area assist in the expo.
“One of the challenges we are faced with in the country is that regardless of various career opportunities available at our disposal, most of us face difficulties in choosing the right career path. Being misinformed on the different universities and careers available and the job market can have a long lasting negative impact not only on you as an individual, but the country too. That is why I decided to not only do a career expo for DUT and Durban, but to also plough back in the community I come from,” said Duma.
The municipalities invited schools in their zones and pupils from grades 8 to 12 living under the Harry Gwala District Municipality. Teachers from the schools also eagerly participated in the preparations of the expo.
Nonks Moholi, a Life Orientation Educator at Indawana High School in Umzimkhulu said, “As teachers, we have an undisputed responsibility to empower and make sure that our learners are vigilant when choosing their careers. An integrated approach in such a responsibility is imperative, therefore initiatives in this nature add value to our daily interactions with the learners”.
Although the expo was hosted by DUT SRC and the three municipalities, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Mangosuthu University of Technology also participated in the event. Also attending the careers expo were representatives from Central Applications Office (CAO), banks, Eduloan as well as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
Phumlani Dlamini, a pupil from Mabandla High School in the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality said, “The careers expo has highlighted some of the questions that were lingering at the back of my mind. It gave us an opportunity to interact and understand while getting to know things about DUT, MUT, UKZN, NSFAS and CAO without feeling intimidated”.
Greater Kokstad Local Municipality Deputy Mayor, Cllr Bheki Mtolo, reminded pupils of the economic role each one of them is expected to play in taking the country forward.
The District Municipality plans to turn the Career Expo into an annual event which will involve all high and secondary schools based at the District because of the positive feedback it received from pupils and parents.
– Noxolo Memela
Pictured: DUT SRC President Mqondisi Duma with pupils at the Career Expo.
