MENTORING IN THE VUK’UPHILE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME

Abstract

Skills shortages in the construction industry is well known, to remedy the situation government as a participant in the industry has come up with programmes to mentor young people who are interested in the industry. The purpose of this study was to determine if mentorship can be relied upon to improve the skills shortages in the construction industry. The study was conducted on the Vuk’uphile public works programme. One of the main findings of the research was that formal mentoring is best suited to get the desired results. The research also established that implementing a mentorship programme has to involve all stakeholders from the onset and the target for mentorship is well defined. Mentoring is costly; as such the beneficiaries must pay for the skills gained in the programme.