UKZN Provides Career Tips for Young Folk

BY: .

UKZN’s College of Health Sciences (CHS) in collaboration with the Programme for Technological Careers (PROTEC) recently hosted about 170 Grade 11 and 12 learners at a workshop designed to enhance their understanding of the importance of making good career decisions.

Hosted by CHS’s Student Support Services Counsellor, Ms Suzanne Stokes, the Career Matters, Skills and Tips workshop provided the learners with talks on how vital it is to make informed career decisions and to obtain the correct career Information.

‘A career becomes part of your identity, it allows you to grow professionally and intellectually,’ Stokes told the pupils.

Ms Ronelle Msomi of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science and Ms Paulette Naidoo of the College of Law and Management Studies’ teamed up with Stokes to present their respective college’s career programmes.

Learners on the PROTEC programme, primarily from disadvantaged backgrounds, are selected based on their ability in Maths and Science. The programme aims to ready them for university life by providing extra mathematics and science education on Saturdays and during holidays as well as career guidance and support.

The programme grooms the youth for careers in Science, Technology and Health.

‘The students are identified through an academic programme and based on their academic performance,’ said Stokes. ‘They are then invited to join Saturday school and vacation classes. Teachers from a variety of schools offer them tuition, guidance and support. A range of holiday programmes are put together for them, including  job shadowing, study programmes, and open days, similar to the one they just completed.’

Learners who attended the UKZN workshop were from Umbogintwini, Mandeni, KwaMashu, Tongaat, Nelspruit, Umlazi, Umkomaas and Kathlehong.

Nombuso Dlamini