A pilot project to help drive matriculants towards the path of success by helping them obtain their driver’s licenses free of charge has received an A+.
As many as 100 matriculants from Oval North and Lentegeur High School have been selected to take part in the programme with the aim of arming them with a tool that could help them gain employment once they leave school.
The cost of obtaining a driver’s license, which can run into the thousands, has often been labelled as a barrier for the poor to accessing what has become a requirement in accessing the job market.
In 2017, the then Minister of Transport announced plans to establish driving lessons into the high school curriculum.
While this initiative has yet to come to fruition, a partnership between, the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust, Western Cape Member of the Legislature Ricardo Mackenzie, Bazil’s Traffic School and the ward councillor Avron Plaatjies is benefiting some pupils in their community.
“It is nearly impossible to get a job without a driver's license, and there are many positions, even with small businesses, that require a driver's license to get hired,” said Mackenzie.
“I have secured private funding for 100 matric learners from Mitchell's Plain to complete their learners' and ultimately driver's licenses.
“Learners will therefore not only complete their matric, but also leave school with a skill for life.”
“The pilot project, which will hopefully be extended to the greater Mitchells Plain and hopefully spill into other schools, will give these matriculants a hand-up to succeed, and pave the way to a better life.”
As much as R135 000 has been set aside to pay for pupils’ license appointments, study material, ID photos, driving lessons and renting vehicles for the day of the test.
The first batch of matriculants will write on the May 8 at Gallows Hill Traffic Depot in Greenpoint and the second on a week later in Fish Hoek.
Owner of Bazil’s Traffic School, Bazil van der Merwe told Weekend Argus that he jumped at the opportunity to help.
“I know how important having a driver’s license is. I experienced it myself. When I matriculated I got my first job as a cleaner but quickly got promoted and I could buy my first house at the age of 22, all because I had my license.
“(Having) a drivers license changed my life and I’m hoping it could do the same for these learners.
“This is such a great opportunity, I really hope these learners understand what they are getting, I mean there are people who are 55 to 65-years-old, they come to me now and want to learn to drive because they realise how important it is.”
Oval North’s principal Nazeem Jacobs said he was proud of his pupils for stepping up to the challenge.
“They are so excited to be doing this. I always tell them to study yourself out of a situation and this is exactly what the project is allowing them to do.”
Jacobs added that the project is also a stepping stone.
“For instance if the learners don’t have finance to study at least they can use their license to get a job and save up to study.
“This is also so helpful especially because we know how costly it is to get to the point of obtaining your drivers license, and who says they would have had money to get it in the future?”
Jacobs said he hoped that this type of dedication would motivate other pupils to work hard to get to matric.
Amaarah Jones, 18, who is part of the project, said she already felt like she stands a better chance at doing something with her life.
“Woman are at a disadvantage because we don’t have our drivers license, so I’m using this to break that stigma,” she said.
“This is such a big opportunity for us because we don’t usually get it, especially financial support in our communities, so I’m planning to pass, I know I will.”
Elijah Siswana, 17, said this opportunity boosted his confidence.
“As soon as you reach 16, you allowed to drive and that is always on your “to-do” list because after school I would've looked for a way to get it and now I have the opportunity given to me,” he said.
Nandze Dlamini, 18, agreed and said that this was a major motivation for pupils in lower grades.
A spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department Bronagh Hammond said they welcomed the initiative. "Learner and driver's licence has increasingly become a pre-requisite for employment and would be of value to learners when applying for jobs in the future."