Cala Learners Experience UCT Open Day

The Sakhisizwe Information and Research Centre (SIRC) facilitated the participation of a group of learners from Cala Community Senior Secondary School in the University of Cape Town (UCT) Open Day, held on Saturday, 12 April 2025, as part of a collaboration with Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela.

The initiative formed part of SIRC’s broader commitment to expanding educational exposure and access for learners from rural and historically disadvantaged communities in the Chris Hani District. For many of the learners, the visit marked their first opportunity to experience a university campus and to engage directly with higher education institutions.

During the Open Day, learners attended faculty exhibitions, engaged with academic staff and students, and received information on a wide range of study programmes and career pathways. The visit also created space for learners to reflect on their own educational aspirations and to see university education as an attainable goal.

SIRC recognizes the important role played by Professor Gobodo-Madikizela in making this initiative possible and in supporting efforts to bridge the gap between rural schooling contexts and institutions of higher learning. The experience aligns with SIRC’s mission to provide young people with access to information, resources and opportunities that enable informed decision-making about their futures.

SIRC will continue to pursue partnerships that open pathways for learners in the Sakhisizwe municipal area and contribute to building a more equitable education system

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/d2b542_b5d82fddfc394b959dbe3f6ac8fbdd29/1080p/mp4/file.mp4