Welding the way: Ms Dennis shapes the next generation in welding and technical skills

In a workshop full of sparks and steel, Athina Dennis, a mechanical technology teacher at Oval North High School, shows her pupils that they can excel not only in welding and technical trades but also in the industry, within South Africa and beyond.

Formerly from Elsies River, Ms Dennis didn’t always know what career path she would take. As a young student, she researched skills South Africa needed most and discovered a shortage of artisans.

That discovery led her to welding, a field dominated by men, and set her on a path that would eventually shape the futures of her pupils.

After completing matric at St Andrews High School in Elsies River, Ms Dennis pursued further studies at CPUT and gained experience as a welding instructor in the private sector. She learned how to connect education with industry, identifying gaps and opportunities to prepare pupils for careers in technical fields, she told the Plainsman on Thursday, August 21.

Ms Dennis joined Oval North High School, a technical high school in Morgenster, Beacon Valley, specialising in mechanical technology, metalwork, and engineering, as a Mechanical Technology teacher in 2017.

She became the chief marker for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) in welding and metalwork, overseeing assessments in boiler making and welding.

Since 2018, she has consistently achieved a 100% pass rate with her pupils.

Her teaching goes beyond the classroom. Ms Dennis uses her influence to connect pupils to job opportunities and mentorships, linking them to the industry and showing them how skills in technical trades can open doors within South Africa and beyond.

Qudsiyah Ravens, Grade 12, said: “She always encourages us and said we don’t need to be muscular to be powerful or strong. She’s taught us that procedure in everyday life by being patient and taking care of our work.”

Taghan Paulse, Grade 12, said: “Ms Dennis has impacted every workshop and she has inspired me and helps me do my best.”

Zaahirah Samuels, Grade 12, said: “I chose mechanical technology as it seemed to open up opportunities for me and I am driven by it being a more male-dominated space. Ms Dennis has taught me that a woman is capable of doing just as much as a man.”

Liam Forbes, Grade 10, said: “The first time I started, I was surprised to see a female welding teacher. She also inspires me to do better in this class.”

Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for WCED, confirmed Ms Athina Dennis is the current chief marker for the NSC in welding and metalwork for mechanical technology. She has consistently achieved a 100% pass rate with her pupils at Oval North High School since 2019.

“As one of the few women to take on this role in a male-dominated subject, Ms Dennis’s dedication and excellence have inspired not only her pupils but the wider education community. Through her commitment, she has made a remarkable impact on both her pupils and the broader community,” she said.

Her passion for teaching earned her appointment as an NSC examination marker, and she was subsequently promoted to chief marker for Mechanical Technology in Welding and Metalwork.

Her journey stands as a powerful example of what resilience, excellence, and love for teaching can achieve, and she continues to inspire the next generation of pupils and educators alike,” said Ms Hammond.