Creating career opportunities

The grade 12 learners of A Shipena Secondary School held a career fair for their peers on 15 June at the school premises.
Helene Bam
Justicia Shipena



The first-ever career fair at the school was aimed to expose, inspire and educate learners on the vast number of career paths and opportunities available to them. It was also aimed at enabling learners to familiarise themselves with industry players.

The Career Expo had 15 exhibitors showcasing different careers paths.

The learners got help from different stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the City of Windhoek, the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), the Habitat Research and Development Centre, Namibia Meteorological Services, the International University of Management (IUM), and as well as the parents.

According to Ainta !Aibes, a Life Skills teacher at the school, the career fair helped pupils identify a career path.

“The idea to host a Career Expo was introduced last term and learners had to prepare for two weeks to put everything together,” she said.

She further said she wanted to test the learners planning skills, including if they can go out to different stakeholders to get information and if they can present the information they have gathered in a presentable manner.

“They got marks for this and it will be reflected in their August reports. I have seen so much team work amongst the learners,” she said.

!Aibes thanked the different stakeholders that reached out to help the learners.

Margret Kleopas, a grade 9 pupil at the school, said she was pleased the school decided to host a career fair for them, as normally they do not get such opportunities. She added she learned a lot and received the career guidance she needed.

"Most of the time when institutions hold career fairs only the seniors of the school attend it and I am happy I got to attend my first career fair at my own school. I hope next year the number of careers presented will increase," she said.

Speaking to The Zone at the event, Herman Simon, fire safety officer at the City of Windhoek, said he was glad to help the learners with the necessary equipment and information. Simon urged other schools to follow this example, as it provides great opportunities and learners tend to learn more when they do things by themselves.

"As a member of the community it is my duty to serve my people," he said.

Tjitjiri Ndisiro, a grade 12 learner, said she was happy to be part of the project and that it gave her hints about her afterschool life.

“I have learned a lot and with this experience I can say I am ready to take what life offers me. I thank my teacher for giving us this great opportunity,” she said.

The school also donated sanitary pads to girls during the expo.