Following President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in which he emphasised a dire need for skills as well as infrastructure development, Public Works Department’s Human Capital Investment unit embarked on an ambitious campaign to attract and influence young people to join the built industry.
The campaign was kicked-off at the Madidaba Game Lodge in Cullinan, outside Pretoria on 7 July 2013. This is a five-day intensive camp in which young people will be taught the ins and outs of the construction industry and dispel the misconceptions that the construction industry is a dirty and dusty business, unlike conventional suit and tie jobs. The camp will run from 7 July until 12 July 2013.
The Human Capital Investment (HCI) hosted 100 learners who are studying Maths and Science from Grade 10 to 12 for the 2013 Winter School Camp. These learners are from different schools adopted by the Department of Public works under the HCI unit.
The camp will see learners been taken through among others, Maths and Science tutorials, physical exercises by a representative from Sport and Recreation, different specialists under the built environment and institutions such as Wits, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of Pretoria. These specialists will enlighten and influence the young minds to gain interest in the built environment. The Professional Services unit also from the Public Works Department will play a bigger role throughout the programme.
During the first day of camp, the HCI Director, Ms Vangile Manzini welcomed and introduced all present before giving learners the rules of the camp and highlighting what the learners can expect from their engagement with the department. “The Department of Public Works has already awarded bursaries to deserving students who excelled in Maths and Science, therefore you can be counted among the best in future, based on your performance,” Ms Manzini said.
Teachers from different schools forming part of the camp will also be guided on how they can enhance classroom practice for Maths and Science.
