Black maritime school faces closure as NPA sponsorship dries up

TERRY HUTSON MARITIME STUDENTS attending the Tisand Technical High School near Richards Bay face an uncertain new year with the likelihood that their preferred studies course will have to cease due to a lack of sponsorship. For a number of years the National Ports Authority has largely sponsored the course at the high school, which has enabled students mainly from the black township to complete their matric, with maritime studies forming part of their curriculum. Since 1999 an increasing number of former Tisand students have entered the port training programmes on further bursaries or have gone to universities or technikons. Others have joined the maritime industry working for clearing and forwarding or ships agent companies, but this rich source of potential will now end because no further sponsorship appears likely. Since April 2004 the school’s two maritime teachers have not been paid but have continued working. They are however unlikely to continue in 2005. For a number of students who have already embarked on the maritime course since grade 10 it means a huge setback, as they will have to switch to other courses and make up lost time. There are 24 students expecting to write matric in 2005, with 48 moving to grade 11 and 50 new students expected for grade 10. Tisand is one of three schools offering maritime studies and the only school catering for a largely black township. New Forest High School in Durban receives sponsorship from private industry as does Simon’s Town High School in the Cape.