Chamber hosts networking breakfast

The Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EGCCI) recently hosted a networking breakfast at the Springs Technical High School where the guest speaker was Ferdie Liddle, a project manager with the Department of Basic Education.

Mike du Toit, the deputy president of the chamber, welcomed guests, who were mainly representatives of industry from eastern Gauteng.

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In his welcome, he stated that far too much emphasis is placed on university training that generally produces graduates in the liberal arts and social sciences when the country needs technicians, fitters, plumbers, electricians and engineers of all disciplines.

He stated that the education system needs to place far more emphasis on technical education and should start listening to the needs of industry when it comes to education.

He also emphasised that a large number of businesses are owned and run by people who started as artisans.

“These are the real entrepreneurs and job creators,” says du Toit.

The guest speaker then outlined the curriculum of technical high schools and stated that pupils had three broad lines of study to choose from.

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The directions are: civil engineering where the emphasis is on construction and woodworking, electrical engineering where the emphasis is on electrical and electronics, and technical engineering where the emphasis is on fitting and turning, welding and sheet metal working, and automotive.

He urged local industries to work in partnership with the school and to give support to students who need to obtain practical experience.

After the talks, guests were taken on a tour of the various workshops at the school.