The Rail Careers Expo for Youth 2008

Venue: Transnet School of Rail, Esselenpark Campus

Date: 12 September 2008

Time: 09h30 – 15h30

Purpose:

The Rail Career Expo for Youth 2008 has been prioritized to bring TETA, Rail Industry Stakeholders, Educational Institutions and the youth together in order to share information about the different career opportunities available in the Rail Subsector.

This event came about after it was realised that learners are constantly faced with a challenge of making appropriate career decisions. TETA is therefore offering learners the opportunity to be exposed to the different role-players and experts in the industry, so that they can gather information and ask the necessary and relevant questions with regards to career opportunities in the rail sector.

Schools:

The Rail Career Expo for Youth 2008 was attended by learners from the following 19 Senior Secondary Schools situated within the Ekurhuleni and the City of Joburg Municipalities; learners were provided transport and refreshments by organizers:

Alexandra:

  • Minerva Senior Secondary
  • Alexandra Senior Secondary
  • EastBankHigh School
  • Realogile Senior Secondary
  • KwabhekilangaHigh School
  • LibertyCommunitySchool
  • MarlboroGardens Senior Secondary

Tembisa:

  • Tembisa Senior Secondary
  • MasisebenzeComprehensiveSchool
  • MasiqhakazeSecondary School
  • JiyanaSeconadrySchool
  • IkusasaComprehensiveSchool
  • Boitumelong Senior Secondary
  • Thuto Ke Matla Comprehensive School
  • BokamosoSecondary School
  • InqayiziveleSecondary School

IvoryPark:

  • IvoryParkSecondary School
  • UmqheleComprehensiveSchool
  • EqinisweniSecondary School

Each school gave learners written consents to attend the expo, and according to our records, approximately 2580 learners in total attended the expo, which was satisfactory as this went beyond our target of 2500 learners.

On the day of the Expo three main activities took place, which are as follows:

  • The Motivational Talks in the Main Hall
  • The Career Exhibition
  • The Learner Experiential Tour

Our motivational speakers as per the programme of the day were as follows:

  • Opening of the event by Programme Director: Mr. Vincent Mothabela
  • Ms. Noma Sejake, Senior Manager - TETA, offered an Opening Prayer
  • Official Address: Mr. Japie Kruger [Chairperson - Rail Chamber Mancom]
  • Official Address: Ms. June Govender [ Rail Chamber - Executive Officer]
  • Official Address: Ms. Maphefo Matlala [Chief Executive Officer - TETA]
  • Motivational Talk by Mr. Mustak Ally - Transnet
  • Motivational Talk by Mr. Ingwa Sichula – Group Executive, Technical Services - Metrorail SARCC

Our career exhibition included the following well presented exhibitors:

  • Transnet Group
  • TransnetSchool of Rail
  • Transnet Rail Engineering
  • Metrorail SARCC
  • Railway Safety Regulator [RSR]
  • National Department of Transport [DoT]
  • Transport Sector Education and Training Authority [TETA]
  • University of the Witwatersrand
  • SSI - A DHV Company
  • Umsobomvu Youth Fund [UYF]

Coupled with the Motivational Talks and the Exhibition, we had an Experiential Tour for learners, this tour only accommodated a total number of 280 learners. The tour was meant to give learners a technical exposure of the careers in the rail sector, focusing attention on Electrical Engineering, Train Driving & Control - Simulator, Railway Signalling, and Welding, just to mention a few.

Sponsors and Organizers:

The Rail Career Expo for Youth 2008 is an initiative organized by TETA - Rail Chamber as the main Sponsor in partnership with Maningi Galore Careers the NGO sourced to coordinate the event. Other sponsors included:

  • The Transnet Freight Rail, School of Rail
  • The EkurhuleniMunicipality
  • The Gauteng Department of Education [GDE]
  • Johannesburg Water and
  • The National Ports Authority [NPA