Striving for excellence at Protec Tongaat

The conference room at the Allan Gray offices in Umhlanga was abuzz with excitement at the recent Protec Tongaat post-school graduates awards day.

The inspiring event celebrated the qualifications of 21 Protec pupils who excelled in subjects such as mathematics and physical science.

Fifteen pupils were awarded certificates in honour of their achievements, many against great odds.

Protec sets out to open up opportunities for young people to pursue technological careers. So the academic degrees being celebrated were mostly in fields which make them sought after in the working world.

Each young person, many from very disadvantaged backgrounds, was stepping out into the world equipped to make a good life for themselves and to contribute to the economy.

Among the graduates were five engineers, six scientists, two education specialists, three medical doctors, two pharmacists, two marketing professionals and a business science graduate.

Protec, which has branches countrywide, selects grade 10 pupils from local schools who show potential in maths and science. These pupils attend Saturday school where they receive extra tuition in maths, science and English as well as life skills until they finish matric.

Also read: New record for Protec

The post-school project seeks to mentor these students who go on to tertiary study.

Each student presented a brief testimony of their journey.

Themba Khumalo, a graduate from DUT who had received a full bursary from the Sugar Industry Trust Fund for Education (SITFE), spoke with great enthusiasm of the changes Protec had made to his attitude to study and life.

Guest speaker and chairman of the sugar industry trust fund for education, Tim Murray, said he was heartened to see how SITFE’s generous support of Protec has changed lives by giving young people the opportunity to pursue meaningful careers and join the skilled workforce that the country so desperately needs.

Locally there are three Protec branches: Mandeni, Stanger and Tongaat. They rely entirely on donations and corporate funding, so would welcome your support.

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