GDE launches Ekangala Engineering School of Specialisation
“Given the school’s proximity to mines, and it being situated in an industrial area, there was a need to offer a more skills-focused and dynamic curriculum.”
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) officially launched the Ekangala Engineering School of Specialisation situated in Ekangala, Bronkhorstspruit.
The launch led by Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, alongside officials from the Gauteng Education Department took place on Tuesday, September 13.
The Bronkhorstspruit region is home to several coalmines, which include Canyon, Palesa, SASOL and Exxaro.
Not far from the school, the Cullinan Diamond Mine is situated. There are furthermore also quarries that mine stones and sand.
The school started in 1985 as Ekangala Comprehensive High School and had mainly focused on academics and the more traditional curriculum.
“Given the school’s proximity to mines, and being situated in an industrial area, there was a need to offer a more skills-focused and dynamic curriculum. Therefore, technical subjects were phased in,” said the Gauteng
Department of Education’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, in a media statement on September 13.
“The school has now been launched as Ekangala Engineering School of Specialisation with a focus on Mining. The school prides itself as having exceptionally good performance in engineering, sciences, maths and ICT.”
According to Mabona, learners at the school need to be immersed in mining skills, and careers in the industry.
“Mining, as mentioned earlier, is a predominant industry in the area,” Mabona added.
Learners demonstrated a wide variety of critical industry skills such as welding, fitting and turning, automotive mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, excavation and so much more.
“Not only are learners immersed in these high demand skills, but they are also exposed to the creation and operation of certain machinery and technical equipment that is crucial in each of the previously mentioned skill sets.”
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According to the statement, the Ekangala Engineering School of Specialisation is the 21st specialised school in the province to be launched by the Gauteng Department of Education.
The department plans to launch many more such schools as they equip learners with the necessary skills to begin work, entrepreneurship or freelancing in industries with high economic activity.
“We are preparing our learners for the future. Recent statistics show that 85% of matric learners go to universities after completing their matric and become academics.
“Schools of Specialisation will change that. Learners in such schools will be able to either work immediately at industry-leading companies, or they will embark on entrepreneurship and start their own businesses,” said MEC Lesufi.
