By Matsobane Manaka and Maphari Machaka
Deputy Minister Buti Manamela (right) and her entourage in the briefing session ahead of the start of event
Agri-SETA in partnership with the Department of Higher Education and Training, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development as well as Waterberg Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College hosted a career expo at Rooywal farm on 18 August 2023.
The career expo, which led by Deputy Minister of Department of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, gave grades 8-12 learners from rural and disadvantaged schools an opportunity to learn and understand many career options available for them post-matric. The expo further exposed them to available economic opportunities they can participate in.
Around 600 learners from 20 schools mostly agriculture schools from the Waterberg District within BelaBela, Lephalale, Modimolle, Thabazimbi and Mogalakwena Municipalities have participated in that programme through exhibitions from various institutions and departments.
The programme centered around agriculture since it was identified as one of the main economic drivers within Limpopo Province.
Buti Manamela said this open day on the farm gave learners a different view in agriculture given food security concern across the globe.
Waterberg TVET college as the host, also provides agriculture in its curriculum from level 2-4 with an estimated enrolment of 260 intake annually for National Certificate Vocational (NCV). The college further provides Animal Production National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 5 Diploma in partnership with Agri-SETA and University of Limpopo as well as other learnership programmes such as Plant Production, Horticulture and Land Scapping.
The farm allocated to college has 147 hectares (ha) comprises of abattoir, tunnel, broiler (comprises of nine houses with the carrying capacity of 1000 day-old chicks with three weeks interval placement), layer (comprises of two houses with a carrying capacity of 2000 chickens that are kept for a period of one year), dairy, small and large stock sections as well as an open land and drip irrigation section.
Agri-SETA provides financial support on learnerships, skills programmes and other related agricultural initiatives. Through the support, students are placed for practical at the farm on annual basis. Currently, 10 students are funded.
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development also plays a significant role to help students through various programmes.
Deputy Minister of Department of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela (left) at a career exhibition manned by the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
School learners listen to Deputy Minister Manamela during career expo at Rooywal farm.
