The Engen Community Computer School has capped another 70 graduates, all South Durban residents whose basic computer skills qualification boosts their chances of finding employment. 

The Engen Computer School offers members of the South Durban community free introductory-level computer skills training, which cover 8-unit standards of the National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing. 

Well-known in the local community and frequently boasting a waiting list, Engen Computer School applicants must be unemployed school-leavers who reside in South Durban and want to upskill themselves. 

Graduate, Bellarina Govender recently landed an administrative job at a fuel station in Montclair. 

“The course really helped me a lot and was the reason I got this job because I now understand all the computer basics and how to use Microsoft Excel which is an essential skill needed in today’s world,” says Govender, who resides in Merebank. 

Graduate Siboniso Hlongwa says that the course really opened his mind and helped him to see that he could still “make it in life.” 

After completing the course, Siboniso applied for a Sales Learnership, which he is currently completing at Gauteng City College. 

Course convener and training director, Sheryl Casalis is proud of all the graduates and especially pleased to see that so many have found job opportunities or been accepted onto Learnerships as a direct result of their training at the Engen Community Computer School.  

Casalissays the Engen Community Computer School training makes a tangible difference to the attitudes of the people who attend the course.   

“Many arrive feeling hopeless and not believing that they have the ability to learn how to use a computer; Siboniso is an example of a changed life, because of his changed attitude and increased confidence,” she adds. 

Of the recent graduates, Khayelihle Dlamini, Sthabile Cwele, Mlondolozi Khanyile, Ayanda Shozi, Braeden Govender, Phila Msosmi and August Ratau were all accepted onto the Systems Development Learnership NQF Level 5 with Addtech Development Solutions.   

“Engen Community Computer School training has not only made them computer literate but has now sparked an added interest for them in the field of Information Technology because the certificates received are a gateway to job opportunities as well as learnerships,” adds Casalis. 

The Engen sponsored school has been transforming lives in South Durban for 13 years and has to date capped 2 504 graduates. 

The latest batch of graduates, who are all excited to put their newly acquired computer skills into practice, were congratulated by Sykry Hassim, the General Manager of the Engen Refinery.   

“Our 70 latest graduates all deserve a big round of applause for their effort,” comments Hassim. 

“At Engen, we believe that continuous community upskilling will ensure resilience and readiness in today’s everchanging and demanding new digital world.”  

While matric and age criteria are not prescribed, most students who attend the school are aged from 20 to 40.   

“The Engen Computer School has a proud history of giving graduates the knowledge and confidence to go out and seek jobs that would otherwise have been beyond their reach,” continues Hassim.  

“As a caring and responsible company, Engen is humbled to play a small role in positively changing lives of community members who reside in an area close to the Engen Refinery.”  

As a company, Engen champions nine of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 – Quality Education, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. 

Engen is also a long-time supporter of education in Durban through its Engen Maths and Science Schools (EMSS), which seek to address South Africa's key skills shortages in the engineering and technical fields, thereby contributing to the economic growth and transformation of the country. 

In KwaZulu-Natal, the EMSS programme offers additional Maths, Science and English tuition every Saturday to under-privileged learners from grades 10-12 at Fairvale High School, Ganges High School, Howard College, and Mangosuthu University of Technology. 

Operating for over 30 years, the EMSSs measure of success is an annual matric class that consistently surpasses the national average of successful learners and learners who matriculate with a bachelor’s pass.