28 Jul 2024

Ministry of Education and Skills Development requires P8m in order to complete all Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF) satellite centres across the country.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Aubrey Lesaso said the plan was that every satellite must operate with a minimum of eight programmes in order to be considered to be operating at full capacity.

He said the budget for construction of one satellite centre was estimated at P12 million  at the time when satellites were conceptualised in 2018. 

He said only P4m was provided at the time, hence the decision to construct them in phases. Mr Lesaso said that therefore meant that an additional P8m would be required to complete each satellite.

He said the funds would cater for the construction of kitchen and dining hall, training workshops, expansion of ablution locks as well as increasing office space to accommodate new staff members.

Mr Lesaso explained that under the Transitional National Development Plan, expansion of CITF satellite centres was allocated  P6.5m adding that although the allocated funds were not enough, they were sufficient to add at least one new programme for each of the satellite centres.

The centres, located  at Thamaga, Chadibe, Moreomaoto,Tsau, Kazungula, Senyawe, Nkange and Old Naledi are operational and have enrolled trainees.

Mr Lesaso explained that the ministry’s original plan was to build the centres in three phases, but due to financial constraint, all the centres were still in phase one of their development.

He highlighted that phase one included offices, materials/ supplies stores, and three workshop labs, without shelter for bricklaying, plastering and carpentry.

Mr Lesaso explained that each satellite had a set of programmes earmarked for it, based on its location, major economic activity as well as the natural resources found in the area.

Giving an example, he said the Kazungula satellite would offer programmes related to hospitality and tourism, Moreomaoto would  offer cultural training related to basket weaving and grass roof thatching, while Chadibe would offer programmes related to food preservation and processing due to its endowment with agricultural produce and wild fruits.

“Thamaga satellite centre is earmarked to offer additional training in programmes like electrical installation, plumbing and pipefitting, hairdressing and beauty therapy, painting and decorating, drapery and flower arrangement and horticultural farming once it is operating in full capacity,”he said.

Thamaga/Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane had asked about the status of CITF around the country, especially Thamaga centre. Ends