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Six hundred and six unemployed graduates have been appointed by provincial government departments across the North West Province in internship programmes for them to gain much needed workplace experiential learning, Premier Thandi Modise reported in the 2013/14 Departmental Policy and Budget Vote Speech for Office of the Premier she tabled in the provincial legislature on Thursday.

In announcing that 170 bursaries will be awarded to needy and deserving students to address the provincial priority skills needs, Premier Modise urged provincial departments to employ 35 beneficiaries of her department’s Talent Management Enhancement Programme. R11,9 million has been budgeted for provincial bursary scheme for the 2013/14 financial year.

Modise reported that universities have confirmed that 35 bursary holders have recently completed their degrees in the medicine, other health fields of studies, Engineering, Economics, Accounting, Social Work, Information Technology and Agriculture as their skills

“Twenty unemployed youth from Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District have completed their engineering learnership programmes, are qualified and permanently employed by various municipalities as artisan,” Premier Modise added

Modise further said that the milestone brings to 40 unemployed youth that benefitted from the partnership between the Office of the Premier, Anglo Gold Ashanti Limited and the District municipalities. Thirty-five of the 40 beneficiaries are also permanently employed.

The Office of the Premier is also hosting 18 graduates with disabilities who are part of the internship programme for People with Disabilities implemented in partnership with Disabled People South Africa and the Services Sector Education and Training Authority.

The programme is aimed at increasing the chances of employability and ultimately absorption of the graduates into the labour market.