Food for thought for learners at UCT career day

SCHOOL NEWS - The University of Cape Town (UCT) hosted its fourth successful Health Sciences Career Day at the Nkcubeko Science and Youth Centre in Thembalethu on Friday 13 March.

Some 250 grade 11 and 12 learners from across the Garden Route thoroughly enjoyed interacting with a variety of people representing all the university's undergraduate degree courses, from MBChB, occupational therapy and physiotherapy to audiology and speech-language pathology.

Dehran Swart, the health teaching platform manager in the Health Science Faculty, said the learners had the opportunity to speak with young students about their courses and learn about the application process to become part of UCT, how to prepare for the national benchmark test - the points of which are added to their matric results - and how to navigate the online system and create a profile.

"It's all about preparing the youth to take ownership of the pathway they are going to follow as students and then in a profession. We want them to be able to make informed decisions about what the different careers are about."

Dentistry was also presented by the University of the Western Cape, and the other exhibitors included George Hospital, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Western Cape College of Nursing and the pharmaceutical department of the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness.

Swart is also the health employment co-pillar lead for a health collaborative the UCT is conducting with other universities across Africa. "We're the only South African university participating in an African health collaborative, and part of it is looking at health employment and how we can enable the youth to enter the health profession."

Swart had approached the Nkcubeko Centre four years ago with his idea for the Health Sciences Career Day. They will be back next year for their fifth edition.

Whilma Klein, clinical programme co-ordinator at George Hospital, interact with some learners of Percy Mdala High in Knysna: Yamkela Lupondwana, Imonge Bavuma, Emma Wildeman and Cwenga Sigcu.

Dehran Swart of UCT with some keen learners who attended the career day. Back: Libhongo Ndlabongo (Concordia High), Azay Solomons (Knysna Secondary School) and Nonqaba Cekeshe (Knysna Initiative for Learning and Teaching). Front: Aviwe Sigwela, Emihle Siko and Busisiwe Madokwe, all three of Percy Mdala High.