Principals investigate future training needs A CONFERENCE of South African maritime schools involving those that offer maritime studies as a matric subject within their curriculum has just been hosted by Portnet in Durban. The purpose of the conference was to share experiences in teaching methodology and resources.
Heading up the conference of the three schools concerned were the principals of Simonstown High School, well-known author and educator Brian Ingpen; the Tisand High School based near Richards Bay which receives sponsorship from Richards Bay Minerals and was represented by its principal Gordon Oxley; and Durban's Maritime School, represented by principal Edgar Patani and Maritime Institute director Commander Peter Fitt.
As a result of the discussions a conference document issued a number of recommendations aimed at meeting the needs of the maritime industry into the 21st century. These included increasing their combined intake from 120 pupils to 240 in 1998 and creating an interest in the schools through industry and in-house magazines.
An agreement was reached that maximum use should be made of shipping and port industry training facilities in order to provide practical training and that scholars should be attracted from the maritime community wherever possible.
Bursaries would be sought from local industry leaders for deserving students, and new enrolment would be split equally between the commercial and seagoing syllabi.
BY TERRY HUTSONÜ
