Local pupils access refinery’s talent pipeline programme
KINGSWAY High School grade 10 pupils, Gemma Borchard and Tinta Morris along with Mariam Essop-Seedat of Isipingo Secondary School, Nolwazi Molefe and Anele Maseko of Reunion Secondary School are among more than 130 youngsters who have been offered an opportunity of a lifetime through a multi-million rand skills development programme offered by Sapref Oil Refinery in Prospecton.
Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande presided over the official hand-over of contracts to matriculants, 70 learnerships and 10 bursaries for engineering at university level for the 2014 academic year at a function at Sapref on Saturday, 8 February.
The programme includes bursaries for university studies in engineering, learnerships at Sapref’s accredited training college, internships and a project to introduce grade 10 pupils to oil refining.
“Through this integrated programme, Sapref aims to play its part in addressing the shortage of technical and engineering skills in the country while addressing our own business need for highly skilled professionals. The skills programme is part of a broader social responsibility programme through which we aim to make a meaningful contribution to neighbouring communities, to our industry and to the country,” said Lindiwe Khuzwayo, human resources manager.
According to Khuzwayo, 17 grade 10 pupils were accepted into the Sapref School Talent Pipeline programme, an initiative which aims to introduce grade 10, 11 and 12 high school pupils to the company and to career possibilities in oil refining. Each pupil received R5,000 towards their school fees and a mentor to guide and support them through the last three years of school.
Lifeskills training is also part of the package. In total Sapref has 58 learners on this programme. Upon completion of matric, pupils who aspire to study engineering then compete for Sapref university bursaries.
Ten of the 2013 talent pipeline matriculants are currently studying engineering through the bursary scheme, which covers their university tuition fees, residence fees, books, meals, a laptop and a monthly living allowance. In addition, all bursary holders qualify for vacation work at Sapref, allowing students the opportunity to supplement their theoretical knowledge with practical experience.
Sapref has 20 students in its university bursary programme at an annual cost of at least R2,3-m.
In addition to the bursary, 60 youngsters have been accepted into a learnership programme through which they receive formal training in the production and engineering fields at the company’s in-house college.
Lectures are supplemented with extensive on-the-job training. Trainees on this programme are matric graduates, from FET colleges and those doing in-service training, having completed their studieds at universities of technology.
Some 41 trainees are doing their internship at Sapref. Overall a total of 135 youngsters will obtain internationally-recognised qualifications in various aspects of refinery operations. The cost of the 2014 intake alone is almost R6-m.
Sapref managing director, Ton Wielers said: “We anticipate our own requirements and industry’s need for skilled operators and engineers will grow in the next few years, hence the number of learnerships and bursaries we are offering this year.”
