Africa-Press – Botswana. The re-engineered Ipelegeng programme resumed in Tsabong on Saturday with a groundbreaking ceremony for a semi-detached building, which will be constructed through the programme.
The project is expected to offer skills to about 100 beneficiaries who will be capacitated by Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF).
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at Bontleng ward in Tsabong, CITF deputy executive director Mr Godiramodimo Kalaote commended the council for implementing the programme, noting that the beneficiaries had been provided with protective clothing.
He said CITF had been engaged to work with councils to train beneficiaries. He explained that they would use competency-based modularised training which was learner-centred.
He said through the training, teachers only demonstrated and offered guidance while the majority of the work was done by the learner.
“There are no classrooms, 80 per cent of the training is practical while 20 per cent is embedded theory to support training. We prepare you for employment, we do onsite training at companies,” he said.
Mr Kalaote reminded beneficiaries that the objective of the programme was not to earn money but to gain skills, which would enable them to apply for construction projects for a living.
He called on the council to avail necessary resources for training to avoid time lapses.
“We want to indoctrinate the spirit of productivity,” he said.
He divulged that more projects under the revamped Ipelegeng projects would be implemented in the area, adding they were currently setting up another project at Bokspits with the facilitator already on site.
Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi South Mr Samuel Brooks appreciated Tsabong District council for kick-starting the revamped programme.
He encouraged Ipelegeng beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity to transform their lives.
MP Brooks said government sought to achieve a knowledge-based economy, adding that the skills transfer through the revamped programme could help beneficiaries create employment opportunities for themselves and others.
Tsabong District Council, chief environmental health officer Ms Keemenao Bonamelo said the project was in line with the national vision 2036 of achieving a knowledge-based economy and President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Reset Agenda, which sought to instil mindset change.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms Pearl Motshabisi said they looked forward to gaining skills and knowledge.
In 2020, government resolved that the labour-intensive public works programme be improved to undertake long-term beneficial projects and offer skills transfer opportunities to beneficiaries.
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