Education and training

150 new classrooms are to be built.

Afour-day Career Exhibition for Grade 12 learners in the Sekhukhune East District generated a lot of excitement among school pupils. Jointly presented by a number of Eastern Limb mining houses and the Department of Education, the exhibition attracted more than 4 000 pupils. A popular stand offered the chance to virtually experience what it would be like to work underground via Eastern Chrome Mines’ Immersive Learning Solution.

Another highlight was the Eastern Limb Training Centre stand, which displayed equipment and components that form part of the training programme that Glencore offers. They also showcased what goes into boilermaking, electrical, fitting and other skills that one can acquire while working on a mine.

The construction of two primary schools was completed in the 2021/22 financial year and 25 school-related projects will be tackled in 2022/23, with 10 scheduled for completion in 2024. One of the projects is to build 150 new classrooms as a matter of urgency.

There are seven Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in Limpopo: Capricorn College, Lephalale College, Mopani East College, Mopani South College, Sekhukhune College, Vhembe College and Waterberg College.

Venetia Diamond Mine in the far north of Limpopo is training employees and contractors in the skills required for underground mining as the mine transitions from surface to underground mining.

Six simulators have been installed at a new training centre for the mine, covering aspects such as drills and bolters while virtual reality will be deployed for a virtual blast wall. More than 300 training modules are available. De Beers Group has partnered with the International Youth Foundation (IYF) under its SA Skills for Life (S4L) programme which focuses on strengthening teaching and learning in the public TVET college system in the Capricorn and Vhembe Districts. Programmes included Entrepreneurship, Job Skills, Financial and Critical Thinking Skills.

The University of Limpopo has a loan of R480-million loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for the construction of a 3 500-bed student residence. Other contributions will come from the National Department of Higher Education and Training and the National Treasury Budget Facility for Infrastructure. This is the first phase of a longer-term project to provide 15 000 beds over the next 15 years.

Online Resources

Limpopo Department of Education: www.edu.limpopo.gov.za

National Education Collaboration Trust: www.nect.org.za

Turfloof Graduate School of Leadership: www.ul.ac.za

University of Limpopo: www.ul.ac.za

Sector Insight

The University of Limpopo is building residences.

Students had a chance to experience sophisticated machinery and join a shift of miners underground through VR technology when a Careers Exhibition was held in the Sekhukhune District.

The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (formerly part of Limpopo University) is an independent university in Gauteng Province. University of South Africa (Unisa) has a regional support centre in Polokwane and agencies at Makhado and Giyani.

The private company that the University of Venda runs to create extra revenue streams is confident of earning significant amounts from its WiFi projects. Univen Innovative Growth Company (UIGC) expects to bring in nearly R700-million from its subsidiary, UIGC Connect, in the first five years of providing connectivity to students and the broader community. The offices of UIGC Connect in Thohoyandou will make it possible for the Local Municipality of Thulamela to become a smart city. The programme began by supplying accredited university accommodation sites, which includes buildings that are not official residences, with connectivity and spread out from there. ■