Engineering News reports that Master Builders SA (MBSA) has called for an urgent meeting with Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande, to provide clarity on the prospects of thousands of learners who are in training programmes supported by the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta).
MBSA is the industry body representing construction contractors. On 29 January, Nzimande placed Ceta under administration to facilitate an investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement and maladministration. “We have thousands of learners placed with building contractors on learnerships, apprenticeships and candidacy programmes and the immediate concern is to ensure that the placing of Ceta under administration does not result in unintended consequences for these programmes and for skills development in the construction sector,” MBSA president John Matthews indicated. He confirmed that MBSA had been aware of ongoing challenges at Ceta, which were resulting in significant delays in the payment of training grants, bursaries and stipends to employers and learners. At just below 10% of the total labour force, the construction industry is one of the largest employers in the country. However, the lack of qualified and experienced workers has been cited as one of the biggest threats facing the industry.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
- Read too, Master Builders SA urges clarity on learners left in limbo by Ceta, on page 19 of Business Report of 5 February 2020
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