Picture: Grade 11 learner, Maitshwarelo Dintwa from Pinagare High School amongst the Top 6 learners/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The brain of a Grade 11 learner, Maitshwarelo Dintwa from Pinagare High School in Taung continues to produce more dopamine. This comes after she was selected amongst the Top 6 learners from various schools across the province to represent North West at the Aqua Enduro National Competitions.
A month ago, Manokwane village-born learner (16), scooped R40 000 after winning Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) High School Essay competition.
Dintwa said the Aqua Enduro competition is an innovative initiative aligned with the Key Strategic Objectives of the Department of Water and Sanitation to address the skills shortage in the scientific and engineering disciplines within the water sector.
“We were given different tasks and to come up with solutions. One of the tasks was to evaluate the importance of water quality. We visited various water treatments and assessed how water purification takes place.
“The competition was targeting secondary school learners in Grades 10-11, who study Physical Science and Mathematics. So, I am so grateful that I reached the top 6 position after scooping position 2. Now, we will be representing the province at the national level,” she said.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said: “The Water and Sanitation hosted competitions in the category of Aqua Enduro as part of the department’s Water and Sanitation Education Programme. The competitions were held between 30 August to 1 September 2023 in Rustenburg.
“As part of the competition, is to raise awareness about the importance of water quality. Twelve high schools participated in this year’s competitions and were given first-hand experience on how, where, and why water is purified.”
Mavasa further said the two-day competition was categorised into technical, posters, and Aqualibrium assessments including the learners’ mid-term school results. He added that, learners also went on an excursion to Rustenburg Waste Water Treatment Works and Bospoort Water Treatment Works to understand and witness the water purification processes.
“As with the quote “Seeing is believing”, most learners were able to piece together most of the questions they had regarding the treatment works process and finally understood how water flushed from the toilet can become potable again or fit for human consumption.
“The adjudication team from the scientific and engineering fields judiciously picked six learners who received high scores during the two days, and they are Tlhalefang Kwakwa- Trirsano High School, Malebogo Motsamai- Seleje High School, Orefilwe Thupayatlase and Maitshwarelo Dintwa– Pinagare High School, Kenosi Keorapetse- Ramotshere High School and Zanele Plaatjie- Obusitse Secondary School,” said Mavasa.
He said this Provincial Aqua Enduro team will represent the North West Province at the national competitions in October, where they will compete for tertiary studying water-related courses in their desired Universities in South Africa.
Mavasa said since its inception in 2008, the Aqua Enduro competition has awarded 129 learners from the North West with tertiary bursaries.
“This has in turn produced certified scientists, geohydrologists, environmentalists, and among others, engineers. A decade ago, Vuyo Ndaleni, who is currently a Candidate Science Technician at the Department of Water and Sanitation in North West, was also a participant in the Aqua Enduro competitions.
“She is one of many testimonies of this initiative. She has encouraged those who did not make it to the top six to never give up, but instead grab other opportunities available by the department,” he said.
The Guardian 