23 Feb 2015

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu has encouraged women to enrol in the Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF) training programme in Kazungula.

Speaking during a tour of the facility recently, Minister Batshu said that women should not shy away from courses that were dubbed male dominated.

“Women have the ability to learn and work within such industries. The government has given both men and women an equal chance to apply and be enrolled, it is up to women to use the opportunity,” noted Mr Batshu.

He urged students to work hard and take responsibility of their lives, adding that “We all reap what we sow, it is in our power to control how we benefit from life,” said Mr Batshu.

CITF senior facilitator, Mr Kitso Sekokonyane said that from 373 students that graduated only 54 were women. 

The highest number of women was trained in Shuttering and Plastering and Wall and Tiling and each both courses had 17 women, he said.

Mr Sekokonyane said about 298 of their graduates had been absorbed by local construction contractors whilst 75 are still waiting for responses from stakeholders.

He said that the school faced challenges of lack of transport and  accommodation, which has resulted in the school enrolling a limited number of students.  ENDS