adminManicaland Correspondent
Forty-five schools from Mutasa district converged at Hartzell High School recently for a career expo organised by Government.
An employment officer from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ms Norah Torto, told The Herald that the expo was successful as there was an overwhelming response from schools.
“As Ministry of Labour, it is our mandate to provide career guidance and counselling services to students,” she said.
“A career expo is one method that we use in assisting students to choose their careers wisely.
“We brought various organisations and exhibitors together with schools at a central point so that exhibitors will provide first-hand information to the students.
“Our exhibitors came in terms of universities, training institutions, Government departments, non-governmental organisations and parastatals such as TelOne, Zesa, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and EMA, while universities like Bindura, NUST, Gwanda and many more also make the list.”
Ms Torto indicated that they were planning to cover the entire Manicaland province this year.
“We are going to have exhibitions in every district,” she said. “We are also planning cluster career expos to help those in remote areas. Last week (a fortnight ago), we were in Mahenye, which is a remote rural area where students might not have the chance to travel for them to gain enough knowledge about choosing careers wisely.”
Education officer responsible for special needs in Mutasa district Mr Charles Mazorodze pointed out that such career expos were held every year in most districts.
“Our last career expo was held in October, but now we have decided to do it as early as February so that we can expose our learners early,” he said.
“Since most our schools are from the rural set-up, most learners are not exposed to various career opportunities; hence we decided to invite them here so that they can be informed on career options.
“We are so overwhelmed by the response of the learners. We expected 35 exhibitors, but we have registered 42. All schools in the district, both primary and secondary, have been invited and they are here. We are also moving along with the new curriculum, which encourages all students to receive career guidance.”
Mr Mazorodze said the most important thing was that they were trying to provide a link between students and the working world.
“There is a time when we feel we should hear from the organisations themselves what is happening in them and share with the students so that they can have good decisions concerning careers,” he said.
District schools inspector for Mutasa Mrs Chipo Mlambo said the labour market had been characterised by skills mismatches such that employment creation and technological transformation had become a priority for this turnaround.
“It is envisaged that this process will empower students with relevant entrepreneurial skills critical for different sectors of the economy,” she said. “Ultimately, students who are the future labour force can be engaged in productive and meaningful economic activities to improve their welfare and livelihoods.”
Mrs Mlambo urged students to also engage in non-conventional fields such as art, culture, sports, tourism and many others, taking advantage of their personal talents and abilities.
“They must become innovators, inventors, self-reliant, logical thinkers and technologically proficient problem solvers,” she said.
St Augustine’s High School student, Mufaro Kureya, said the expo was helpful because it enlightened students on the need to explore opportunities within the country.
Online Reporter