Government to skill 7000 masons with basic skills

The Private Sector Foundation Uganda, with support from the education ministry, have patnered with Masons Contractors Association and Maganjo Institute of Career Education to train masons in what seen to be a drive to equip the youth with skills.

 Masons are trained in areas where they are found to be lacking basic skills.

According to Eng. Kam Waiswa from Masons Contractors Association, the training is targeting local masons who are already in the business but do not have formal education.

 These are going to be trained in core, basic and advanced skills.

"We are mainly targeting masons with informal education, those who never went to vocational school, but are doing well in the business. We are going to impart more skills in them that we find lacking," Waiswa said.

 The project dubbed ‘The Masons Ranking and Certification' originates from the education ministry under the skills development facility programme, which is targeting individuals in the private sector without formal education, but doing useful jobs.

 Christopher Ssemanda, the project co-ordinator, said they are targeting approximately 700 masons in East and Central Uganda.

 He added that the training will run for seven months only, ending in July.

 According to  Ssemanda, the masons benefit from the project are identified by the Masons Contractors Association. Uganda Vocational Qualifications Forum assesses thier potential, skills and competences and later trains them in the areas where they are found lacking.

 The successful masons are then given certificates and helped to get jobs through recommendations to different contractors.

 "After the masons successfully completes the training, they will be issued certificates. We shall also capture thier data and have them recommended for jobs and different contracts," Ssemanda said.

The project began in Mpigi at Ndodo village, Kammengo sub-county, where 38 masons were trained in different skills at no cost.

The masons welcomed the move, saying it would help them improve their skills and make them relevant in the sector.

 George Lubega, a mason, said he did not get chance to go to a vocational school, but he is happy that he can now get a formal education and improve his skills.

 "I have been working as a mason for 10 years now. I am extremely happy for this training and I believe I will be able to get big contracts with big organisations after the training," Lubega said.