Ithala CEO urges young girls to study mathematics and science to address skills shortage
The Group Chief Executive of Ithala, Yvonne Zwane has exhorted female learners to take the fight to the country’s skills shortage by ensuring that they continue with mathematics and science subjects up to to matric level and beyond.
Zwane was speaking to 80 girl learners from six Durban schools that were hosted by Ithala in support of the Cell C Take a Girl Child to work initiative.
The Grade 11 and 12 learners who came from Qhilika, Ogwini Comprehensive, Masakhaneni, Umqhele Secondary, Chesterville Extension and JG Zuma High Schools spent the day learning about Ithala’s various operations at its offices in Umlazi and Durban.
Zwane said the Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work initiative complemented Ithala’s own plans of empowering the youth of KZN.
She said the initiative provided real-life platforms for girl children to broaden their horizons.
“Our country faces a chronic shortage of professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; this evidently suggests that we need more people, women in particular, with expertise in these fields,” she said.
Zwane urged the learners, who came from schools in KwaMakhutha, Chesterville, Umlazi, Clermont and Inanda, to pursue careers in the engineering, mathematics and accountancy fields.
“The Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work initiative attests to the Zulu adage, libunjwa liseva which loosely translated means that it is important to nurture someone from an early age…Ithala identifies closely with these noble objectives and we have committed ourselves to playing our part in addressing the skills gap faced by the country,” said Zwane.
Zamambo Mkhize, a grade 12 learner at Qhilika High School said, “I wish to thank Ithala for giving us this unique opportunity…we have gained a lot, especially about how we need to make use of the opportunities we have.”
Another learner, Sinenhlanhla Gasa, said she had received invaluable advice on how to take charge of her life.
“I have learnt that my life is in my hands, it is up to me to make a difference in my life,” she said.