Department Launches Schools Programme for Careers in the Built Environment
12 Leaner beneficiaries with members of Management from KZN Public Works; National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
management as well as Department of Education
KZN Public Works launched the Schools Programme on 26 February 2020 targeting scholars from Grade 9 to 11.
The programme has adopted 12 learners from disadvantaged, impoverished and rural areas to set them up for
careers in the built environment professions such as Engineering (Electrical, Structural, Hydrology, Chemical);
Landscape Architecture, Property Studies, Quantity Surveying, Town Planning; Project and Construction
Management. The Department will accommodate the selected learners financially, through the purchase of
school uniforms, books and school fees for the next three years. Upon completion of Matric, the learners will be
absorbed into the Department’s Bursary Programme, which will cover their tertiary education studies. During
the launch of the Schools Programme, the Department invited parents, educators and recipients of the
programme and provided them with relevant information about the benefits of the programme. Learners and
parents could not stop raving about how excited they are to be a part of this initiative. Deputy-Director General
for Corporate Services, Mr Phiweyo Duma spoke frankly to the learners about being cooperative and resilient in
their studies.
The National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure launched the programme in 2013 and has since
adopted 42 learners across the country and the programme has offered 298 bursaries and produced 145
graduates. In line with the National Department, KZN Public Works is taking this initiative a step further by
grooming the youth for the future in terms of skills development that will channel their career path in the built
environment. This project has a promising finish as it has several success stories nationally.
Excited beneficiaries and educators who were briefed on the benefits of the project
Ms Nancy Makhado from the National Department of Public Works Infrastructure and Mr Simelane from Department of Education were also a part of the launch. They both showed an eagerness in the outputs of the programme and urged all the learners to take the opportunity with both hands. They also encouraged the parents to support their children in their studies. Ms Nikiwe Mvuyana, who works as a Professional Architect at the Southern Regional Office became a drawcard by sharing her testimony on how the Departmental Bursary and Internship Programme has assisted her to obtain her qualification status. Her story encouraged the learners to pursue their passion using all the resources that they are given. This programme is indeed the start of incredible things and has a promising finish in ensuring that learners are groomed and are given the necessary job shadowing and career awareness that they need in the Built environment professions.