The National Department of Public Works (DPW) continues to support the implementation of the skills development in the country. This as the DPW will host a winter school camp for 100 learners who were selected from the Department of Public Works Schools programme. The learners are from 16 schools adopted by DPW from disadvantaged schools in rural, township and farm communities.
The Winter School camp will run from the 13th to the 18th July 2014 in Pretoria. It is aimed at creating awareness and to influence learners to take careers in the built environment. The camp also aims to di-stigmatise built industry professionals who are often perceived as mud mixing, back breaking people with unattractive salaries.
The DPW in conjunction with the Construction Education Training Authority (CETA) have also made available bursaries for learners interested in studying for careers in the built environment. Professional Mentorship will also be offered under the department’s Young Professional Programme to those students who studied for careers in the sector.
This year alone the department awarded 143 bursaries to deserving students, who are pursuing careers in the built environment. This is done as part of the seven year plan of re-building Public Works, building the technical capacity of the Department; and as a contribution towards Outcome 5 (Chapter 9 of the National Development Plan): Skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path.
During the winter school camp, maths and Science tutorials will be offered for the duration of the camp in a bid to address learning gaps and to focus on remedial work. Built environment Young Professionals from the Department of Public Works will also have exciting and practical presentations aimed at attracting the learners into the Built environment. The Director-General Mziwonke Dlabantu will also speak at this winter school camp.
Details of the Winter School Camp:
Date: 13 to 18 July 2014
Venue: Meulstroom Lodge, Bronkhorspruit, Pretoria
Enquiries:
Thami Mchunu
National Department of Public Works
Cell: 079 519 6997
