With the aim of creating awareness and interest around critical subjects related to scarce skills in the country, eThekwini Municipality, together with the Department of Education and the Willowton Group, launched the ''Life of an Engineer'' video.

During the launch on Monday, 18 August in Moses Mabhida Stadium, the chairperson of the Finance and Procurement Committe, Councillor Fawzia Peer, who represented the Mayor of eThekwini James Nxumalo. said the nation was grappling with social challenges and relevant resources were needed to overcome them.

''It is pleasing to see a public-private partnership in action, as private companies work together with government to figh these challenges.  The science kits donated to schools will go a long way in improving education in our country,'' she said.

Peer said if the country wanted to unlock jobs, the shortage of engineers needed to be addressed.  ''We suggest that parents must be encouraged to inspire their children to take up these critical subjects at a young school-going age,'' she said.

the municipality''s Human Resources Unit Deputy Head Gideon Vundla said the project will educate the learnters on the type of work and projects that engineers get involved in.  ''through watching the video of young engineers, we hope that the learners will be encouraged to study engineering as well,'' he said.  This was echoed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Willowton Group, Razak Moosa, by saying that learners needed to be exposed to critical subjects from a young age.  ''The objective of the science kits is to expose learners to maths and science with the hope that they take engineering as a career.  Going forward, South Africa will have leaders in maths and science.'' he said.

Other stakeholders who are involved in this project include the University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Edutrade and the New Africa Education Foundation.  these stakeholders donated science kits worth R 500 000 to 20 high schools in the uMlazi region, which include schools around the city, Umlazi and Cato Crest.