Learners Graduated In Building And Construction Learnership Programme
“To all the graduates, congratulations, you have made it thus far. Indeed, your hard work has culminated in this momentous occasion. The graduation ceremony remains one of the most memorable events in anybody’s life. This comes at the end of a long journey of academic and social preparations. As a recent graduate myself, I am glad to be the one to remind you; that you are because you took the opportunity to walk through life eager and open to self-improvement and that which is going to best help you evolve, because that is really why you chose to participate in this programme, to evolve as human beings—to grow into more of yourselves, always moving to the next level of understanding, the next level of compassion and growth. Continue to dream even bigger. The impossible is possible if you a have a goal and persevere in order to achieve it.”
These were the words of honourable MEC Mxolisi Sokatsha during his keynote address on the graduation of 30 learners in Prieska.
• On the 1 May 2017, this progressive government changed the future for a total of 41 learners from and around Prieska when they commenced with induction.
• On 2 May 2017 the learners commenced with their formal classes towards the Learnership qualification in Civil and Building Construction, Level Three.
• The theoretical and practical training on site was over a period of 12 months.
• The learners were expected to spend 2 weeks completing practical work and the next 2 weeks theoretical training at Tswelelopele Skills Centre.
• As part of the learners’ practical experience under supervision of an appointed contactor by Services SETA, they conducted renovations to the Môrewag Hostel.
The roles of the various partners can be summarised and follows:
• Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) as the funder of the programme
• Northern Cape Rural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College as the trainer accredited by Construction Education and the Training Authority (CETA)
• Siyathemba Local Municipality as the lead employer
• Department of Roads and Public Works as the host employer
As part of the practical training the learners renovated the Môrewag Hostel in Prieska which were vandalised and illegally occupied. As the custodian of all Immovable Assets, the Department of Roads and Public Works will transfer the renovated Môrewag Hostel to the Northern Cape TVET College for operationalisation. The hostel will be used as accommodation for future learners who will be enrolled in this programme.
Verder het LUR Sokatsha as deel van sy toespraak ook gesê: “Dames en Here, radikale transformasie in terme van die provinsie se eiendomsportefeulje is nodig, maar ons kan dit slegs met die hulp van gemeenskapslede bereik. Ek wil graag ‘n beroep doen op lede van die gemeenskap om insidente van onwetigge besetting van staatsgeboue en die vandalisering daarvan (soos in die geval van Môrewag Hostel); aan die department te raporteer. Volgens ‘n nasionale aksie bekend as: ‘Operation Bring Back, is dit die hoofdoel van die regering om beheer te neem van leegstaande en die onwettige besetting van staatsgeboue. Verwaarlosde geboue van hierdie aard dra by tot die verhoging van misdaad en skep ook ‘n swak indruk en beeld. Hierdie instandshoudings werk was nodig en het die waarde van die eiendom herstel.”
Vandag verskaf dit vir my groot blydskap om te weet dat ons eie gradueerende leerders van Prieska, het bygedra tot die nuwe voorkoms van die Môrewag Koshuis. Juis om die rede is ons trots en het ons ‘n verantwoordelikheid om toe te sien na die waardige benutting van hierdie eiendom tot voordeel van die gemeenskap en sy jongmense, het die LUR gesé.
All 30 graduates will exit into an Artisan and Construction Apprenticeship in various trades such as Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrician and Bricklaying and upon completion they will receive their red seal certification. Behind the Tswelelopele Training Centre a Trade Test Centre are being constructed which will serve as an additional facility to provide accredited training.
The event was broadcasted on Radio Riverside as many listeners tuned in to celebrate this momentous occasion in terms of governments' achievement of youth development and the eradication of poverty and unemployment.