Synopsis of Uj career guidance and motivation event (Date: 28 July 2015)
Name of School: Mahlare Senior Secondary
Village: Serithing (around 30 Km from small town, Groblersdal)
Number of learners brought: 42 (20 Grade 10s, 10 grade 11s and 11 grade 12s)
School Staff members:
Molaodi Linford (Physical sciences educator)
Ms Masoga (Life Sciences educator)
Mr Langa (Principal)
Mr Matlala (SGB Chairperson)
Collaborate coordinators of the event: Molaodi Linford, Mapaseka Letsiba, Thobile Nkosi
Guests /presenters
GelezaNathi Team (an educational program on SABC 1):
• Mbuyiselo Khumalo (Presenter)
• Thobile Nkosi (Physical sciences teacher)
• Nonhlanhla Ntuli, AKA “Adoworld” (Presenter)
University of Johannesburg students and staff who took part
• Mrs Lucia Viljoen (Faculty of Education program adviser)
• Mrs Anasthacia Buma (Lecturer)
• Dr Batchelor (Lecturer)
• Welcome Ntaha and Simphiwe Bika (Education students, Edu-community)
• Tshepo Gafane (Developmental studies, GOAL of Academic learders)
• Persley Sebata (Education, fourth year)
• Mr Manganye (Mechanical Engineering, Third)
• Thabang Ndlalane (Law, second year)
• Ingrid Mashala (Psychology, completed)
• Munyaradzi Hluya (Masters in Mechanical engineering, Uj solar car and the team)
The event
Nature of the learners
The learners are coming from one of deep rural villages of Limpopo, Serithing, just outside small town of Groblersdal. Most of these learners, as I could confirm have potential and are extremely intelligent. However, at the same time experiencing extensive magnitude of inferiority complex. The following challenges hinder their progression:
• Inferiority complex
• Lack of ambitions
• Unclear career paths to follow
• Less confidence
• Nature of the village (rural) contextualized their self-conception and self-worth
It was therefore a great necessity of us to arrange an initiative in which learners would be able to engage in live interactions with different bodies existing in an academic world. Our aims were to:
• Prepare learners for Higher Education by exposing them to higher institution environment (UJ)
• empower these learners by exposing them to a variety of careers, and engaging in in-depth career guidance with our arranged guests and UJ undergraduate and post-graduate students
• uplift their self-esteem, self-conception and self-worth through shared experience with presenters (GelezaNathi TV program presenters)
• confirm, through talks that their geographical area (rural villages) does not restrict their fullest potential and successes.
The event was arranged by faculty of education students: Mapaseka Letsiba (Third year), Thobile Nkosi (Fourth year) and Linford Molaodi (First year educator). Upon their arrival, the learners, school management team and guests were warmly welcomed by Mrs Lucia Viljoen. The session was commenced by vigorous GelezaNathi team and presenter Mbuyiso Khumalo conducted the program throughout. It was a blowing moment to have Nonhlanhla Ntuli to share her difficulties of growing up with disability from her young age and how she triumphed all obstacles. Subsequent to her was Mrs Anasthacia Buma, Uj lecturer who has provided motivational talks and also shared her history of education. Further guests from different faculties:
• Welcome and Simphiwe Bika (Education students, Edu-communit)
• Tshepo Gafane (Developmental studies, GOAL of Academic learders)
• Persley Sebata (Education, fourth year)
• Mr Manganye (Mechanical Engineering, Third)
• Thabang Ndlalane (Law, second year)
• Ingrid Mashala (Psychology, completed)
Each of these guests outlined nature of their courses or current studies so learners could approach the individual and develop relationship with the presenters as their role models.
The event was then concluded by Mr Munyaradzi Hluya, (Masters in Mechanical engineering, Uj solar car) and the solar car team. Mr Hluya as it was also the intention of the initiative summarised his academic maturity in Zimbabwe. He further shared the essence of his qualification and his role in designing the UJ solar car. His colleagues further unpacked components of the car and their responsibilities in the car. Towards the end of their presentation, Mahlare learners were taken to the faculty of Engineering for solar car showcasing; an opportunity they have been keen to have.
During lunch time, the learners received food packages from Dr Batchelor, who accumulated the sponsorship from HP and snacks from Mrs Viljoen.
Furthermore, learners were then embarked on a journey to SABC exploration at 14:00 where they had had stimulating experience of visiting radio stations and tv center. Upon the exploration, they had an opportunity to watch Muvhango being acted live.
Later in the evening, the pupils presented themselves in Dr Batchelor and Prof Lautenbach’s ICT lecture in which they have found students awaiting them. The ICT students occupied three learners each from the school and had conversations about careers and how to browse internet for varsity brochures and careers in different fields.
Although learners complained about time restrictions during interaction with students and guests, this was a marvellous and cognitively enriching initiative for the best of the rural village learners. It is also hoped that the relationship between the school and the university of Johannesburg and other stakeholder that have contributed to the success of the event be perpetuated and conducted annually. Perhaps time of contact could be extended to few days stay in Johannesburg for quality enrichment and motivation of these learners.
The school, presents humble gratitude to all stakeholders for such remarkable kind of an initiative they have never experienced before.
Name of School: Mahlare Senior Secondary
Village: Serithing (around 30 Km from small town, Groblersdal)
Number of learners brought: 42 (20 Grade 10s, 10 grade 11s and 11 grade 12s)
School Staff members:
Molaodi Linford (Physical sciences educator)
Ms Masoga (Life Sciences educator)
Mr Langa (Principal)
Mr Matlala (SGB Chairperson)
Collaborate coordinators of the event: Molaodi Linford, Mapaseka Letsiba, Thobile Nkosi
Guests /presenters
GelezaNathi Team (an educational program on SABC 1):
• Mbuyiselo Khumalo (Presenter)
• Thobile Nkosi (Physical sciences teacher)
• Nonhlanhla Ntuli, AKA “Adoworld” (Presenter)
University of Johannesburg students and staff who took part
• Mrs Lucia Viljoen (Faculty of Education program adviser)
• Mrs Anasthacia Buma (Lecturer)
• Dr Batchelor (Lecturer)
• Welcome Ntaha and Simphiwe Bika (Education students, Edu-community)
• Tshepo Gafane (Developmental studies, GOAL of Academic learders)
• Persley Sebata (Education, fourth year)
• Mr Manganye (Mechanical Engineering, Third)
• Thabang Ndlalane (Law, second year)
• Ingrid Mashala (Psychology, completed)
• Munyaradzi Hluya (Masters in Mechanical engineering, Uj solar car and the team)
The event
Nature of the learners
The learners are coming from one of deep rural villages of Limpopo, Serithing, just outside small town of Groblersdal. Most of these learners, as I could confirm have potential and are extremely intelligent. However, at the same time experiencing extensive magnitude of inferiority complex. The following challenges hinder their progression:
• Inferiority complex
• Lack of ambitions
• Unclear career paths to follow
• Less confidence
• Nature of the village (rural) contextualized their self-conception and self-worth
It was therefore a great necessity of us to arrange an initiative in which learners would be able to engage in live interactions with different bodies existing in an academic world. Our aims were to:
• Prepare learners for Higher Education by exposing them to higher institution environment (UJ)
• empower these learners by exposing them to a variety of careers, and engaging in in-depth career guidance with our arranged guests and UJ undergraduate and post-graduate students
• uplift their self-esteem, self-conception and self-worth through shared experience with presenters (GelezaNathi TV program presenters)
• confirm, through talks that their geographical area (rural villages) does not restrict their fullest potential and successes.
The event was arranged by faculty of education students: Mapaseka Letsiba (Third year), Thobile Nkosi (Fourth year) and Linford Molaodi (First year educator). Upon their arrival, the learners, school management team and guests were warmly welcomed by Mrs Lucia Viljoen. The session was commenced by vigorous GelezaNathi team and presenter Mbuyiso Khumalo conducted the program throughout. It was a blowing moment to have Nonhlanhla Ntuli to share her difficulties of growing up with disability from her young age and how she triumphed all obstacles. Subsequent to her was Mrs Anasthacia Buma, Uj lecturer who has provided motivational talks and also shared her history of education. Further guests from different faculties:
• Welcome and Simphiwe Bika (Education students, Edu-communit)
• Tshepo Gafane (Developmental studies, GOAL of Academic learders)
• Persley Sebata (Education, fourth year)
• Mr Manganye (Mechanical Engineering, Third)
• Thabang Ndlalane (Law, second year)
• Ingrid Mashala (Psychology, completed)
Each of these guests outlined nature of their courses or current studies so learners could approach the individual and develop relationship with the presenters as their role models.
The event was then concluded by Mr Munyaradzi Hluya, (Masters in Mechanical engineering, Uj solar car) and the solar car team. Mr Hluya as it was also the intention of the initiative summarised his academic maturity in Zimbabwe. He further shared the essence of his qualification and his role in designing the UJ solar car. His colleagues further unpacked components of the car and their responsibilities in the car. Towards the end of their presentation, Mahlare learners were taken to the faculty of Engineering for solar car showcasing; an opportunity they have been keen to have.
During lunch time, the learners received food packages from Dr Batchelor, who accumulated the sponsorship from HP and snacks from Mrs Viljoen.
Furthermore, learners were then embarked on a journey to SABC exploration at 14:00 where they had had stimulating experience of visiting radio stations and tv center. Upon the exploration, they had an opportunity to watch Muvhango being acted live.
Later in the evening, the pupils presented themselves in Dr Batchelor and Prof Lautenbach’s ICT lecture in which they have found students awaiting them. The ICT students occupied three learners each from the school and had conversations about careers and how to browse internet for varsity brochures and careers in different fields.
Although learners complained about time restrictions during interaction with students and guests, this was a marvellous and cognitively enriching initiative for the best of the rural village learners. It is also hoped that the relationship between the school and the university of Johannesburg and other stakeholder that have contributed to the success of the event be perpetuated and conducted annually. Perhaps time of contact could be extended to few days stay in Johannesburg for quality enrichment and motivation of these learners.
The school, presents humble gratitude to all stakeholders for such remarkable kind of an initiative they have never experienced before.