A team of researchers from the Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (SEPARC) last week visited Mbekelweni High School in the Manzini region to motivate learners and inform them of available opportunities for their future careers.
This is part of an ongoing development outreach programme that was initiated by the Centre in its strategic objective to build sustainable national capacity through ensuring that the country’s future learning needs are met in order to ensure a performance driven workforce and leadership for Eswatini’s future economic growth.
The SEPARC team related their career journeys, some of which have not been smooth, encouraging the learners to have a dream and make all means to ensure that dream is realised. The researchers also informed the pupils of the many available opportunities for them to explore, as well as available scholarship offers to study regionally and abroad.
The team was also excited to hear from Bonkhe Simelane, a learner at the school who emerged the overall winner of the inaugural SEPARC/FNB Essay Competition last year. He continues to do great things, having used the laptop he won to create his school’s website as part of their Junior Achievement Swaziland project.
His colleagues were encouraged to emulate Bonkhe’s passion and desire to learn more, and to ask for assistance in their academic endeavours, particularly for tertiary. The SEPARC team assured the learners that the Centre’s doors are always open to assist them in any way possible to ensure that their future academic needs are met and their dreams realised.
The pupils expressed their appreciation for the visit and further stated that they have little or no access to information on how to go about the processes involved in applying to universities and for scholarships. They also appreciated the motivational talks given by the researchers, particularly as they realised that they can achieve whatever goals they set their minds to regardless of family background, as long as they have good grades and aspirations to achieve more.
