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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System --------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 04 Aug 2006 Title: Construction industry must double its skills profile - Minister --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- By Themba Gadebe, tel :( 012) 314-2267 Pretoria - Public Works Minister Thoko Didiza has appealed to the construction industry to invest in training and skills development. Speaking on Thursday at the conclusion of what the Department deemed a successful inaugural National Construction Week (NCW), Ms Didiza said the industry needed twice as many skilled people as it currently had. "My appeal remains that we must invest in training and skills development while creating an industry with a reputation for high quality performance and effective project delivery. "We need a strong economy to generate employment but we also need a diverse industry that is successful, competitive and secured to drive that growth." The National Construction Week saw role players in the industry taking part in 100 nationwide activities aimed at "showcasing the meaning and the value of the construction sector as a powerful institution to develop the country". It was also aimed at "getting the private sector to commit to the promotion and positioning of the industry." According to the Minister, the nationwide activities succeeded in "igniting the spark" to highlight construction as a career of choice which was attractive to young people. Some of the activities include the 2014 Youth Initiative Foundation, established by the department in 2004 to attract the youth into the construction sector. This has been implemented by promoting professions such as architecture, engineering and quantity surveying amongst others. The Foundation identifies suitable scholars around the country to participate in provincial school holiday programmes. A comprehensive programme is developed for each school holiday, which comprises a built environment and sports programmes. The Foundation targets youth who are doing Maths and Science at high school, subjects which are prerequisites at tertiary institutions for built environment studies. Students that excel in the Foundation's activities are offered scholarships to further their studies. In the six months leading up to this year's construction week, the Foundation's students were assigned to design a soccer stadium for Port Elizabeth which could possibly be used as a support venue for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The winning design came from four successful students of the Holy Cross High school in the Western Cape. Each of the winners received a laptop and earned scholarships for their "innovative and creative design". An aspiring civil engineer, Siyabonga Nyezi told BuaNews that his group was overwhelmed by this opportunity. "We started the project last year in December, it was not easy. We often fought and failed to reach agreement on the best design. "But through support from our mentors in the engineering industry we were able to deal with our differences and work on a common goal." The 16 year-old grade 11 learner said he was happy his dream to become "the country's best civil engineer" would be realized. This is in line with NCW's theme "build ya dream" - deliberately spelt in language that would attract young people. Nyezi says some of the unique features of the stadium is the finger prints sensor that allows access in the presidential suites of the stadiums. He believes the 2010 Soccer World Cup is an event that will unite the country, "as the designing of the stadium has united us as a group". Referring to the learners as very important people, Minister Didiza challenged the industry to "walk the talk." "Let us take these young people on learnership programmes, provide them with bursaries, but most importantly employ them in line with this year's campaign of helping them build their dreams. "Our future in terms of skills replenishment leadership and succession can be found among them," she said. - BuaNews |
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