Bursaries to promote skills

MBOMBELA – Aimed at supporting students from disadvantaged communities currently enrolled for studies in the built environment, the National Department of Public Works (DPW) has awarded 82 bursaries to the students currently in the second to fifth year of their studies.

In January, 50 bursaries also awarded to learners from the DPW schools programme, an element of the built environment skills pipeline strategy.
The outcome of the strategy is to produce professionals through supported learning interventions and focused experiential learning process, starting exposure to the built environment from an early stage in the learner’s career.

One of the recipients, Mandisa Sibiya of KaBokweni and the only candidate from Mpumalanga who has been awarded the bursary, said she was elated when she was told that she was one of the 82 students who qualified.

“This bursary has opened a door for me that I never thought I would ever enter. This is an opportunity not only to realise my dream but the dream of my family and friends and I believe that it will also allow me the opportunity to assist young people realise their own dreams through the mentoring programme.

Growing up, Mandisa had a dream to become Miss South Africa so she could help communities, because back then she thought one had to be a beauty queen in order to contribute to society.

She has since realised that it takes more than beauty and is now enrolled with the University of Johannesburg doing her masters in construction management.

“I hope public works continues with this initiative, because, as former president Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” she said jubilantly.

Awarding the bursaries to the students, the minister Mr Thulas Nxesi made it clear at the awards ceremony that the bursary initiatives were part of the seven-year plan to rebuild the department, which included rebuilding its technical and professional capacity and that of the state, and promoting training and skills development in the built environment.

This will be in line with the needs of the national infrastructure plan and the national development plan and will transform the built environment professions to reflect the demographics of the country.