Hyundai donates gearboxes to technical schools

The gearboxes were handed over to the Directorate of Further Education and Training of the Gauteng Education Department at the Elspark Technical High School in Boksburg.

"The purpose of this donation is to assist the Department of Education in Gauteng in their programme to expand and enhance the subject of motor mechanics training at technical schools in the province," said Michael Rohde, aftersales director at Hyundai Automotive SA. "We pride ourselves to - with the assistance of our business partner Mayfair Gearbox - deliver a contribution to the training of learners in the province in a field where there is a dire need for properly skilled matriculants who can further their technical education on a tertiary level."

The gearboxes, which will be distributed from the Elspark Technical High School as centre, was received by Don Haripersad, director of Further Education and Training at the Gauteng Education Department, and Dries du Preez, principal of the Elspark Technical High School in Boksburg.

Partnerships are critical

Haripersad lauded the initiative to donate technical training material such as the gearboxes for the schools training programme. "It will go a long way to assist us with our drive to get 40 schools offering motor mechanics from next year as a subject from grade 10 to 12.

"Partnerships such as these are critical - it can also bring knowledge and technological information to the classroom. This will also assist the programme through mentorship and coaching of teachers in the technical classrooms. Becoming a partner in this endeavour will eventually also benefit the company because in that manner they are providing learners with the necessary skills to enter the job market in the automotive industry," said Haripersad.

He said Du Preez and his team of teachers at the Elspark Technical High School had a passion for technical education, and therefore it was a good choice as a venue to hand over the gearboxes.

"We want learners to understand that technical training is 'sexy' - we want to change the old perception that motor technicians are 'grease monkeys'. That is why we have to look at resources such as this to give substance to the training of our technical learners and to make the subject attractive," said Haripersad.