The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that there are a number of qualifications within the medical field that are in demand in South Africa, this also includes veterinarians.
Experts have revealed that the global norm is to have between 200 and 400 vets per million of the population, whereas South Africa only has between 60 and 70 veterinarians per million of the population.
In launching the Veterinary Career Guidance Awareness Programme, HWSETA has involved various stakeholders such as the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), professionals in the field, and other sectors.
In an interview, HWSETA Chairperson Dr. Nomfundo Mnisi said:
We went ahead and created an awareness campaign targeting the community, not only the community but also learners in secondary schools.
It has been reported that HWSETA will also provide 60 Veterinary Science and Veterinary Nursing bursaries. Learners will also be encouraged to take on Mathematics and Science as subjects for their first step in this career.
Mnisi has emphasized that learners that already have a good combination of subjects will be able to qualify for admission to an institution of higher learning.
Veterinarians are listed among the scarce skills in the country and the South African government has also highlighted that this is a skill much needed in the country.
Experts have also shared that the career itself is more vast than most people may think and more education is needed. To find out more about the profession, read the article below.
Everything You Need To Know About Becoming A Veterinarian