Price increases forces Witsies to tighten their belts
The continued rise in inflation is impacting everyone, including students, who are now compelled to adjust their spending around the increased prices.
(more…)Witsie to rub shoulders with world-class economists
A top economic sciences graduate has been nominated to attend a globally recognised gathering of young economists. (more…)
Steep fuel price increases squeeze student budgets
The fuel price will increase for the fifth time this year, which will further place the entire Wits community under increased financial pressure. (more…)
Wits students in finals of Budget Speech Competition
Three economic minds are set to represent Wits in Cape Town.
Rethinking black tax as more than a burden or Ubuntu
What if black tax is not as easy to define as conversations around its role suggest? (more…)
Rethinking Black tax as more than a burden or Ubuntu
What if black tax is not as easy to define as conversations around its role suggest?
Parties face student voters over election manifestos
Rethinking Economics for Africa hosted a panel discussion to inform students about “which party they’re voting for”.
Technology can bring youth into power – Mutambara
By Ntombi Mkandhla
Former Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister talks politics and economic issues at Wits Business School
Witsie bags budget speech competition’s top prize
Masters student takes the prize as Witsies dominate the final shortlist for the budget speech student competition in Cape Town
Beer stimulates political debate
With a beer in one hand and their ideas in another, students grappled with social and economic issues on the continent. (more…)
Witsies teach Soweto learners about the path less travelled
PLAN A: Wits Masters students hosted a career day at Morris Isaacson Secondary School in Soweto yesterday after they identified the need to make information about career options more accessible to learners from underprivileged areas.
Photo: Lameez Omarjee
A group of Witsies spent part of their weekend with learners at the Morris Isaacson Secondary School yesterday to try and expose the youngsters to a wider range of careers options.
The Masters in Development Theory and Policy students, who are also part of the non-profit organisation, Rethink Africa, visited the school in Soweto to “express the broadness of the choices” available to grade nine and 10 learners.
“Normally people are told you can either be an accountant, engineer or physicist but there are other careers that people never get a taste of,” said Witsie Ayabonga Cawe.
Empowering choices
Cawe said one of the most important things of the initiative is to share information not normally accessible to students of Soweto. “One of the biggest challenges is that most people don’t see themselves going to university. They don’t have resources to get there and don’t have role models in their social network who have been to university and done so successfully,” he said.
The purpose of the day’s event was to “empower young people in local communities, specifically in the underprivileged areas,” said one of the organisers, Nompumelelo Melaphi.
The event, in partnership with the School of Economics and Business Sciences, included up to 135 high school students from Emshukantambo, Morris Isaacson, Immaculate and Reasoma schools.
“Us coming up here and actually giving career advice and informing them of ways to finance their studies is very useful in them planning ahead.”
Witsie Siya Biniza said it was important to host the event as the students were entering the most “decisive year of their high school career.”
“Us coming up here and actually giving career advice and informing them of ways to finance their studies is very useful in them planning ahead.”
This is the second year the event has taken place and there are hopes to expand it to the Eastern Cape and other provinces, according to Masters student Gillian Chigumira.
The learners were encouraged to study in all fields, including science, arts and commerce. Economists, doctors and forensic anthropologists also addressed the learners as part of the day’s programme.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Wits Vuvuzela. National minimum wage not enough to reduce inequality and poverty. July 23, 2014
- Wits Vuvuzela. Privatisation is an economic blunder. April 23, 2014
About WCJ
We Should Be Writing podcast
- BONUS: What do Witsies have to say about the ongoing #WitsShutdown?Today we’re taking a look at the #WitsShutdown protests which are over historical debt and unaffordable accommodation, which have seen several students suspended, physical clashes between protestors and security and disruptions to the academic programme for many. In this bonus episode of We Should Be Writing, we let students unpack their views on what has […]