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Learners equipped with skills to join construction industry

More than 40 previously unemployed youth across the province are now ready to enter the labour market after undergoing a year-long learnership programme in Community House Building NQF Level 2, through the North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements.

The learners started with the programme in August last year and included the following modules: bricklaying, carpentry, tiling and roofing whilst receiving a stipend of R2 500.  Speaking during the graduation ceremony held in Mahikeng, the Acting Head of Department, Moss Kgantsi, encouraged the graduates to continuously improve the skill and knowledge they have acquired through the learnership, by enrolling for other courses.

“As a department, in response to what the Premier has raised in the beginning of the fifth administration that, the economy of this province will rest on three pillars which are Agriculture, Culture and Tourism (ACT) to achieve 6% of economic growth of the province towards 2019. With this Community House Building Learnership Programme, we remain confident that, we would add value because if you need to attract tourist in the province, you would definitely need buildings of high quality where you become relevant to assist to avoid buildings which collapse from time to time,” he mentioned.

He said the programme was different as it was a work-based programme that combined a structured learning component along with practical work experience and leads to a nationally recognised qualification and is registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

“We need to agree that, our country is faced with major economic challenges, and therefore it remains our responsibility to skill our youth in order to address shortage of skills and unemployment amongst them, and redress the past imbalances within education fraternity, that’s why government has deliberately introduced Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998), National Skills Development Strategies as well as Sector Education Training Authorities to respond to these challenges”, he concluded.

Meanwhile, one of the graduates, Winnie Tladi said they had to make a lot of sacrifices along the way. “It was not easy but we have made it. We are now looking forward to join the construction industry and build quality houses,” she said.

Issued by North West Local Government and Human Settlements