Question NW217 to the Minister of Public Enterprises

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03 March 2022 - NW217

Profile picture: Komane, Ms RN

Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

How far is the process to convert some high schools into maritime schools to expose learners to careers in maritime at an early age, as it was indicated to the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises seven years ago during an oversight visit to Transnet, that Transnet was in communication with the Department of Education and Training?

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

A Task Team comprising officials from Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) and the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has conceptualised a programme on maritime schools.

In 2019, a secondary school in Sedibeng Municipality – Sharpeville in Vereeniging was converted into a maritime school, renamed Mohloli Maritime School. Two (2) maritime subjects were introduced, with the aim of introducing key aspects of the blue economy to the educators and learners.

Between 2018 and 2019, further preparatory work was done with other schools in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. TNPA and SAMSA participated in several engagements organised by the GDE to map out the process and progress on reorganising the remaining schools in the six (6) identified corridors.

TNPA has also launched several initiatives which culminated in a programme where a group of grade eleven (11) and twelve (12) boys from these schools are invited to TNPA under the theme, “Tomorrow’s men - Bring a Boy Child to work” in parallel with the “Take a Girl Child to Work Day”, to create awareness and exposure to the maritime environment where the learners are engaged and introduced to career possibilities in the maritime sectors.

The Maritime School of Excellence (MSoE) conducts roadshows to create awareness on career opportunities in the maritime sector. Furthermore, to encourage learners to meet the requirements to study maritime-related subjects while schools are in the process of being converted, the Port of Durban has donated a science laboratory to Ndukwenhle High School and Smart Boards to Seven (7) adopted Schools in the South Durban Basin.

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