Construction firms unveil skills plan

South Africa's five biggest construction companies have entered into partnership with the education department in a massive artisan training programme that will see thousands of students equipped with construction industry skills.

Briefing the media at Parliament on the partnership on Tuesday, education minister Naledi Pandor said the initiative would have a huge impact on unemployment, as well as skills shortages in the construction industry.

"The construction industry needs many more skilled staff and our colleges need industry support and interventions to ensure that the courses offered are relevant and up-to-date," she said.

The partnership will see the five companies - Murray and Roberts, Grinaker-LTA, Group Five, WBHO, and Basil Read - inject substantial resources in further education and training (FET).

Two FET institutions, Tshwane South College in Tshwane and Northlink College in Cape Town, would be used as flagship sites for the programme.

Pandor said 100 students would be enrolled at each campus next year, "an additional 300 in 2008, and a further 600 in 2009".

A representative of the five companies, Craig Lawrence, said the initiative was in response to an acute skills shortage within the country's construction industry.

"Many construction companies are currently engaged in massive projects that require addition workforce, and as we approach the 2010 World Cup the shortage is becoming even more significant."

He said the construction companies had agreed to assist FET Colleges in a number of areas, including recruiting students, offering experiential training, and developing lecturing staff.

Fifty percent of the first student intake would be granted bursaries by the five companies.

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