A helping hand for technical students

COMMUNITY organisation Solidarity Helping Hand has announced it will donate R1-million to provide a deserving youngster with post-school technical training at the group’s Afrikaans technical college, Sol-Tech in Pretoria.

‘Helping Hand focuses on preventing poverty by helping the youth to obtain scarce and sought-after qualifications,’ said Helping Hand Executive Director Dr Danie Brink.

‘We regard training as the best investment for the future and know that a technical qualification will achieve this goal.’

According to Education and Training Authority merSeta CEO, Dr Raymond Patel, South Africa has a shortage of 40 000 artisans.

Brink said this is not only an indication that technical students are in high demand, but also that they enter a profession where the demand exceeds the supply ‘by a long chalk’.

Although preference will be given to students who have already passed Mathematics and Science in Grade 12, other young pupils can also apply for aid from the organisation.

Head of Sol-Tech Paul van Deventer added that the college has a remarkable track record in pass rates.

‘The average pass rate in respect of students’ first attempt at taking the trade test is 96%.’

‘When second and third attempts are taken into account, the pass rate is close to 100%.

‘For Helping Hand, this high pass rate is proof that Sol-Tech is a reliable and first-rate training institution where the success of bursary students is almost guaranteed,’ Van Deventer said.

Prospective Zululand students can visit the webpage of the Helping Hand Afrikaans Bursary Institute at beurs.helpendehand.co.za.

For more information, contact Colette Scott on 012 6444390.