Cape Town developers launch Technical Engineering Faculty initiatives at Western Cape schools
Cape Town - Property developers, Saul and his brother Paul Berman’s The Hands On Foundation Charitable Trust, is making a difference with their vision of a new Technical Engineering Faculty at schools, opening in 2025.
By February, a new Technical Engineering Faculty is set to break ground at Wittedrift High School in Plettenberg Bay.
The foundation, in collaboration with LEAP Science and Maths Schools, are currently building an extension of the faculties in Crossroads and Langa, starting in Paarl this year, with a rolled-out nationwide plan.
The foundation was founded by Saul and Paul, of the Berman Brothers Group (BBG), who successfully carried out the concept at Wynberg Boys’ High School as their pilot project in 2020.
Saul Berman’s desire to expand in a technical academic career and studies began when he was just a child and despite discouragement from teachers who questioned his abilities to succeed, he moved on to become one of the most successful developers in Cape Town.
“I know what it’s like to feel lost, and I know what it’s like to be made to feel unwanted or unneeded or actually to feel useless,” he said.
“I was told by my teachers that I would never amount to anything.”
It was for this reason that Berman worked hard and was determined to succeed and establish himself in the building sector and envisioned becoming a driving force for children one day.
Jan de Waal, principal of Wynberg Boys’ High School, said the need for children to be exposed to the technical and engineering sector was important.
“The lack of technical skills within the workforce is evident and our aim is to produce young men already skilled in these areas, ready to go on and study engineering, architecture, construction or enter a trade in their field of choice was the driving concept behind this project,” he said.
Berman added the idea was to include it into the whole curriculum.
“The dream is to create a technical and engineering faculty that’s part of the school building in that it’s not alienated from the rest of the school.
“In Crossroads and Langa, campuses of the LEAP Science and Maths Schools, the 2025 school year sees lessons in Civil Construction and Electronics in Grade 10 about to commence,” said the Foundation.
“LEAP 1 (Langa) has 22 students, both male and female, and LEAP 2 (Crossroads) has 25 students, both male and female, who have enrolled.”
Jeremy Marallich, principal of Wittedrift High School said they were excited at the project's prospects.
“There is a strong need for this project, this faculty is so important in that it doesn’t isolate students into different types of schools.”