Sapo moves into teacher training

TERRY HUTSON A GROUP of Durban school teachers will turn to a new classroom during the mid-year holidays this June to learn more about the maritime industry. The initiative comes from SA Port Operations and follows a request from the Eastern Cape teaching fraternity. A pilot project gets underway next month when the first group of about 20 matric economics teachers will learn about globalisation and how the maritime industry fits in, with full emphasis on the role of imports and exports through the ports. The five-day programme continues in September and April 2005 when it will roll To page 16 From page 1 out into other regions and includes an industry overview and sector presentations on the motor vehicle, breakbulk, bulk and container operations. Other topics coming under scrutiny include the new world economy, privatisation and its implications, Coega and its impact, a visit to the port academy’s simulator as well as tours of the appropriate terminals. Project driver is Zeph Ndlovu, senior manager strategy and continuous improvement at Sapo, who last week introduced the project to a group of senior teachers and talked briefly of South Africa’s role in a global context, giving examples of the important role the ports have on the economy in terms of employment and earnings towards GDP. “In the spirit of BEE for the maritime industry, we are widening our reach not only to entrepreneurs but also teachers who are the key to passing on information about the industry to those that follow. It is important that we transform the industry and effect changes through high schools. We need to reach out and ensure that the industry remains current,” he told teachers.