Learners wow judges with their vocational skills
10 October 2019
What can you do with a mountain of old plastic bottles and old bicycle rims? You can create a working, original light.
That was the task for the 16 design teams taking part for the first time in the Provincial Skills Competition at Drostdy Technical High School in Worcester on 21 September 2019.
The competition is an initiative to promote skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options to young people.
Contestants showed off their skills in creative design, carpentry, convectional baking, electronics, welding and bricklaying.
After five hours of finding a creative design solution, Stellenberg High School was named the winner with a team from the Jack Meyer Art Centre in Paarl in second place and Rustenburg Girls High School winning third prize.
The ten carpentry teams had to manufacture two projects. The three judges, all professional artisans, had to deliberate intensely to determine the winners. The difference in points between the first six places was very small. The judges were impressed by the standard of the products.
Consumer Studies students entered the contest for the first time this year. The enthusiastic contestants enjoyed themselves and an hour into the competition the cakes were baking in the oven.
Teams from Drostdy High School won in the baking and carpentry categories.
Jan Kriel School won in the welding category. This was the first year the Mechanical Technology learners took part in the welding contest. Second place winner was Weston High and third place Drostdy Technical High.
Labori High School’s team was judged the most skilled in the electronics category.
St Andrews Technical High School won the bricklaying contest for the second year in a row. Thank you to our partner in bricklaying “Worcester Bricks”, for sponsoring the prizes.
Neil Simons, Deputy Chief Education Specialist for Civil Technology and Engineering Graphics and Design, said teachers can be proud of the achievements of their learners during the 2019 contest. “This year was bigger than last year. We want to congratulate all prize winners and trust that next year it will be bigger and even better.
“A great and heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, especially our partners in this event, for the generous donations that made the event such a huge success.”
