Geared for life and ready to go
JOBURG - After three years of weekend and after- school lectures, 197 high school pupils from Soweto, Alexandra, Springs, Cosmo City and Diepsloot, graduated recently from the ORT SA Geared for Life (GFL) programme.
The excitement was overwhelming as they donned their graduation gowns and received their certificates. They were awarded Work Readiness, Microsoft Computer Basics and Vocational certificates in their chosen programme: project management, paralegal practice, marketing, or nail technology.
The programme offers Grade 10 learners from disadvantaged areas an opportunity to complete a full-year qualification over the course of three years, giving them an additional certificate by the time they leave school.
Katlego Bapela who graduated with the marketing certificate said, “If it wasn’t for ORT SA, I would not have been able to get an internship at a marketing company. I am proud of myself because I have skills at 19 that others don’t have. The ORT SA Work Readiness programme taught me how to draft a CV, how to behave in an interview and communicate with fellow workers.”
Megan Lawless, head of the vocational and enterprise development department at ORT SA told the Alexandra students, “Because of your commitment to the programme and how serious you were about getting ahead, we are going to be starting a new GFL programme in 2014 [which will] start from Grade 9 instead of Grade 10.”
The new Great Start programme will be a bridging course before the GFL programme. Based on assessments at the end of the bridging year, a decision will be made if the learner is eligible for the GFL programme. “This certification is invaluable to these graduates when going out to look for work or being accepted at tertiary institutions,” said Lawless.
ORT SA also assists teachers and pupils in previously disadvantaged primary schools with maths and science facilitation, runs women’s empowerment groups and does small business training.
