The top 30 Grade 11 12 learners from the Govan Mbeki Maths Development Unit (GMMDU) were invited to the merSETA Winter School, held at the NMMU in Port Elizabeth from Sunday, 23 June to Friday, 28 June 2013.
These learners attended the maths and science programme with GMMDU over 12 Saturdays from January this year. The learners are from the rural areas of Cradock, Graaff-Reinet, Cookhouse and Somerset East Region.
The aim and focus of the winter school is to encourage learners to pursue a career in Engineering, as well as “get a feel for University life”. The learners were housed at the NMMU residence and each learner received a toiletry and stationery pack. Learners attended various interactive courses such Robotic and Industrial Lego, as well as some life skills courses such as Study Skills, time management, learning styles as well as an HIV Life skills workshop. Continental Tyre SA and Engineering Enthusiast Ettienne Gerwel both did presentations to encourage these learners to pursue a career in Engineering and engineering related fields.
The weeklong programme included a tour of the VWSA plant as well as a visit to the Nelson Mandela Bay Science Technology Centre, and concluded with a prize giving ceremony where all the learners received a certificate of attendance and the top three learners receiving trophies. merSETA is determined to promote engineering as a career to high school learners which will hopefully address the shortfall of the technically skilled workforce in South Africa. The top five learners from this group of 30, will receive bursaries from merSETA to study Engineering at the NMMU in 2014.
Back from left Department of Education’s Pierre de Villiers, Mechanical Engineering’s Karl du Preez and Merseta’s Olrike Petitt. Front from left first prize winner Cradock High School’s Athenkosi Bottoman, second prize winner Buhle Goqa also from Cradock High School and third prize winner Melikhaya Mfuku from Nqweba Senior Secondary in Graaff-Reinet.
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