Ilinge Primary School recently held a career day featuring 10 companies and individual speakers to give pupils insight into a wide variety of future careers.
Among them were government officials, representatives of the transport industry, the air force, navy, SAPS and the traffic department as well as law firms.
One of the highlights was a presentation by Advocate Lubabalo Stemele who promised to give all the pupils who would pass with 95 percent a R500 each and donate 10 books of his choice to the school library.
He captured pupils’ attention as they learned about that field of law and the opportunities it brings. He told them that should they do law, one can be an advocate, lawyer, senior counsellor, write laws and work in the government. But, he warned them: “don’t be lazy to reach your goal”.
Siya Twala of WBHO Construction and Engineers, promised to buy laptops for the three top pupils, while Zolani Mntuyedwa from the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association reminded the children to take school seriously and focus getting into the transport industry, not necessarily the taxi industry.
Motivational speaker Nosipho Daniels advised young people to focus on their studies to better equip themselves to face future challenges and called on teachers and parents to be more concerned about the welfare of young people.
“Do everything with pride. Remember the way you dress is the way you want to be addressed.
“Prioritise education rather than pregnancy and choose your friends wisely. You are lucky to have a wide range of career choices,” she told the pupils.
“During our time we were only told about nursing, teaching and policing. Today there is a wide range and you have teachers that care for your well-being and future.”
She added that the youth are at the centre of building a better South Africa, which could be achieved if they focused on their education, and warned them not to use mobile phones for crimes and other anti-social activities.
Her words were reiterated by Nyanga police spokesperson Captain Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi who felt that everyone including school children should strengthen the fight against drug and substance abuse as well as promote peace in the area.
“It is sad that we have young people from primary schools that are involved in crime. The 12- to 14-year-olds are used to lure Uber taxis and rob them. We arrested a few just last week that were used to rob these taxis.
“Your cellphones should be used for school work not to request Uber taxis. Do not do drugs; your books should be your friend,” she told the packed hall.
School principal Xoliswa Gongotha said the presentations at the career day had given the pupils a better understanding of the real-world application of the skills they were learning in the classroom.