Pupils explore working world

MBOMBELA – Local pupils recently got a glimpse of the adult world when they had the opportunity to visit Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM).

The Take a Child To Work day was organised by the Department of Education in partnership with EDM.

Pupils from various schools in Mbombela were taken to the municipality’s offices to experience this. The event is held annually to expose pupils to the workplace environment. It is also aimed at influencing their career decisions.

At the municipality they were organised into small groups before being sent to different departments such as tourism, law, human resources, rural development, engineering, communication, finance and auditing.

After the excursion they were awarded certificates of attendance.

According to Dr Matluli Mdhluli from the Department of Education, through the initiative the department wanted to motivate pupils and create a sense of professionalism in them as they were about to venture into higher education.

“Most of them are in grade 12 and we thought that before they go to tertiary institutions we need to teach them how to conduct themselves in a working environment,” he said.

Mdhluli also added that professional mannerisms are hardly taught at post-matric institutions and the responsibility to teach them rested on the shoulders of teachers. Other groups were taken to the Public Protector house and the Department of Justice.

One of the pupils, Tinyiko Mambana, said the shadowing experience helped her to decide which career she would like to pursue after matric. “Through this visit I was able to find myself and identify the career that I would like to follow. It was an eye-opening experience,” she said.

For Jacqueline Keck, the day planted a professional seed inside her. “Today was a start of what I want to become in future, having to feel the working environment means that I will have to work hard to achieve my dreams,” said Keck.

Also read

How to keep your children safe 

Youngsters take part in mini-tournament