Bleak outlook for 2016 matriculants

There are “very few”
job opportunities for
the 2016 matriculants
when
they enter the
workforce next
year without
skills or
some
form of
training.
And as the
Fees Must
Fall
movement has shown,
university degrees are
becoming increasingly
unaffordable.
“The transport and logistics
industry is no longer hiring
on potential but on skill,
which is a sign of a tightened
economy,” said Kim Botti,
director at specialist industry
recruitment agency, Lee
Botti & Associates. She
pointed out that companies
were having to closely
watch their spend and find
ways to cut costs.
“This has had a
significant impact
on training and
upskilling staff,”
she added, noting
that in most cases
training was being
offered through
learnerships
which, once
completed, offered
a qualification.
But this provides a general
overview of the industry
and therefore additional
training is often required.
Botti commented that freight
courses, diplomas or degrees
did offer an
advantage to
new entrants
to the job
market but
that even
this did not
guarantee
employment.
“Those who
work parttime
during
their studies
have the edge
with potential
employers as
this shows that they are serious
about working, earning a salary
and growing.”
The founder of the business,
Lee Botti, is involved in the
iThuba Project in the Cape
where the company has
educated over 4 500 scholars on
the importance of gaining some
sort or work experience – even
if it is voluntary work – where
they can learn skills, obtain
experience
and have
someone who
can provide a
reference.
Meanwhile,
a recent poll
by African
News Agency
revealed that
the 2016
matriculants
felt that the
Fees Must Fall
movement had
harmed their
cause for affordable tertiary
education.
Jordan Louw, 18, from South
Peninsula High School in Cape
Town, was quoted as saying
that when the Fees Must Fall
movement started out, she
thought it was inspiring.
“Finally students were
standing up against higher
tuition fees and I felt myself
being encouraged to get
involved, but from this year it
has been getting out of hand,”
she said. “Nothing can be
achieved by defacing university
property.”
Chulumanco Mawonga,
18, from the Portlands High
School in Mitchells Plain, said
the actions of the protesters
were not doing future students
justice. “Next year I may
not have my opportunity to
study due to the actions taken
towards the universities and
the vandalism. They are taking
us 10 steps back.”
Bronislav Diergaardt, 18,
from Lentegeur High School,
also in Mitchells Plain, added:
“Fees should fall for all types
of education, not just higher
education.”
INSERT & CAPTION
The transport and
logistics industry
is no longer hiring
on potential but on
skills.
– Kim Botti