THE Maritime Awareness Programme, spearheaded by the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), is transforming how young South Africans engage with the maritime sector.
Designed to introduce learners to the vast opportunities within the industry, the programme also supports high school students already studying maritime subjects, helping them improve their academic performance through increased exposure and resources.
SAIMI, established in 2014 by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), has been at the forefront of driving maritime education, skills development, and research in South Africa.
The Maritime Awareness Programme is a cornerstone of its efforts to nurture interest and expertise in the sector from an early age.
The programme includes several key initiatives. Maritime high schools are provided with essential teaching aids, such as nautical charts and books, to enhance learning. SAIMI has also developed an online maritime curriculum, ensuring that all schools, regardless of location, can access quality maritime education.
To support educators, SAIMI facilitates teacher development workshops and is working to create a specialised teaching qualification in maritime studies.
Additionally, the institute has launched the DiveIn App, a digital tool that provides students with an overview of diverse career paths in the maritime sector.
Further enriching the programme are the annual Maritime Winter and Spring School Programmes, which offer learners hands-on experiences and deeper insights into the industry. These initiatives aim to inspire the next generation of maritime professionals and equip them with the skills needed to thrive in this dynamic field.
The goal is to ignite interest in the maritime sector from an early age and ensure that learners are well-prepared to pursue careers in this vital industry.
The maritime sector is a critical driver of South Africa’s economy, and through the Maritime Awareness Programme, SAIMI is laying a strong foundation for the future of maritime education and innovation in the country.
The Winter School and Spring School Programme aims to assist learners, not only to improve their performance in maritime subjects (Maritime Economics, Nautical Sciences, Marine Sciences) as well as Maths and Science, but to also enhance their understanding of the maritime sector by facilitating maritime related excursions which include port tours, boating, sailing, and bird rehabilitation sites.
Nationally, 95 learners from 17 schools that offer maritime subjects across 5 provinces, that is, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, and Gauteng province, have participated in the Winter school sessions organised by SAIMI.
At the Eastern Cape provincial level, 84 learners from 5 schools that offer maritime subjects participated in the Spring School programme, which was hosted in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education.
The facilitators of the classroom sessions include experts from the maritime industry as well national subject examiners.
A high-level assessment done by SAIMI on the Grade 12 results released about two weeks ago, found that a number of learners that participated in the SAIMI Winter and Spring School Programme performed well, with a number of Bachelor passes being recorded, thus providing them with an opportunity to pursue further studies at university.
This, therefore, signals the positive contribution of SAIMI’s interventions in respect of the support provided for maritime education at basic education level.
For for, visit: www.divein.co.za
