JCI empowers learners

Lebogang Baingapi | Thursday July 16, 2015 15:57

The initiative that started last year with Kgosimpe JSS only, spilled to Morama JSS this year, which put the two schools under one roof to receive motivation from different tertiary institutions.

“Jwaneng has only two junior schools and the joint career fair is meant to empower students at a young age and give them an idea of what the job market needs”, JCI Jwaneng President Badisa Tlhako observed.

Tlhako said after receiving positive feedback from the teachers last year, they decided to roll out the fair to Morama Junior school.

He said JCI has a mandate of making an impact in the society by identifying problems and coming up with sustainable solutions.

Morama school head Mpho Lesego hailed the fair, stating that such partnerships will ultimately help learners make informed decisions about their future careers and life in general.

Lesego said these platforms provide students with a chance to explore career opportunities in the market.

She encouraged students to have a positive mind and attitude towards their education. She said investment in personality is the recipe for success.  “You need to invest on good thoughts and action so that in future you are able to draw from this deposit to conquer the world”, she added. 

A senior education officer in the Southern region, Neo Sealetsa said their education strategic plan dictates that young people from the age of 16 should develop and equip themselves with the skill, knowledge and personal qualities needed for life and work.

He alluded that formal labour market opportunities are limited and employment rate remains at 18% from 2010 to date with youth ranging from 15-19 years being the worst at 40%.

He said many of the unemployed are the youth with low level of education, work experience and life skills.

Sealetsa said a mismatch between job opportunities and skills of graduates contribute significantly to the  high rate of unemployment.

“Employers increasingly note the lack of skill of new employees to increase productivity and modernise the economy,” he added.