Industry awareness programme reaches out to school-leavers

A MARITIME Awareness Programme aimed at KwaZulu Natal vocational guidance councillors is to be held next week in Durban on June 23.
The programme has been organised by the Maritime Education & Training Board Cargo Handling sector (METB CH) as part of its overall strategic plan aimed at creating awareness of the maritime industry environment among schools and school leavers. The Natal Education Department has already expressed a particular interest in the METB's efforts at fostering this interest and awareness among school children, and chief inspectors from the department were given a tour of the harbour on May 29 as a forerunner to the programme for the 23rd.
We are not advocating that there are many career opportunities available within the industry at present, says Brad Jacklin, METB CH executive officer. Rather we do believe it to be our responsibility to make children aware of potential careers that open up within the industry from time to time, both in the technical services and support services environment within the industry.
The METB, in conjunction with Portnet, has also arranged to provide an educational tour of the port and of a local maritime training academy for a select group of students. The aim is to keep it fun for the children, who will hopefully leave with heightened awareness of opportunities within our industry, Jacklin told FTW.
By Terry Hutson