Iphutheng Primary School held a Careers Day for its Grade 7 classes to expose its pupils to the careers available in the various spheres of the private and public sectors.
The day is designed to expose pupils to careers at an early age to encourage them to have dreams and live them as they progress to high school. The school invited various institutions to talk to the children about what it takes to be a fireman, a soldier or a pilot.
Among those invited included the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services (EMS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and trainee pilots from various airlines. Also in attendance was former pupil, Mosha Senyolo, who is a Wits University graduate in quantity surveying and now runs her own company, Piloane Consulting Services in Kew.
Speaking at the event, Warrant Officer Pitsi David Mphasha of the South African Navy, urged financially disadvantaged high school pupils in Alexandra to strive to do well in their matric examinations, especially in maths and science.
Read: Asuccesful career day at Ikage
If they pass well, Mphasha said they stood a chance of being absorbed into the defence force where they would initially be trained as soldiers before embarking on careers of their choice.
Those absorbed will be paid a stipend while being trained as soldiers and once they completed their training and decided to take up careers of their choice within the army, Mphasha said all expenses for their courses, be they degrees or not, would be fully met by the defence force.
On top of that, Mphasha said those who complete their training and want to pursue further studies in their chosen fields of study will be paid a salary while studying.
“All you need to do is to look out for our advertisements in the newspapers in the second week of January every year and apply. Our application forms are also available on the SANDF website and can be downloaded,” Mphasha said.
Edwin Mashile of the EMS in Alexandra also outlined the careers available and how pupils could go about accessing them.
SAA trainee pilot, Mncedisi Mkhize, Superior Pilot Services’ Rael Osimbo and Nchabeleng Michelle of SA Civil Aviation Authority also outlined what it took to become a pilot.
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