THE KwaZulu-Natal department of agriculture, environmental affairs and rural development yesterday hired 440 unemployed graduates to work as assistant extension officers in communities
Addressing the graduates at the department's Cedara Auditorium in Pietermaritzburg, MEC Lydia Johnson expressed satisfaction that most graduates were young people.
She said their role would be to advise farmers on crop and animal production.
"The assistant extension officers will work in their respective communities and will be mentored by senior extension officers.
"This will enhance the implementation of food security programmes like the One Home One Garden campaign, Livestock Improvement program and other projects," Johnson said.
She said the graduates would also be part of a skills upgrading programme in which the department would facilitate the completion of their NQF level 7 training, which would then qualify them for a degree.
Johnson said the department was aiming to recruit 800 assistant extension officers for the 2011-12 financial year.
She said the 440 graduates would start work on April 1.
- A graduate, Sakhile Gwala, 22, from Marianhill, said despite having a diploma he had been unemployed for two years and could not contain his joy when asked about his ambitions.
"I have a child who looks up to me for everything and I am glad I will finally have the means to support my family," he said.
"I spent the past years at home and applying for jobs but I never lost hope."
- Another graduate, Brenda Ngcobo, 25, said since graduation in 2008 she had also failed to find a job.
Ngcobo said she had turned to voluntary teaching, though agriculture was her first choice.
"Voluntary teaching turned out to be my source of income but I always kept applying for jobs.
"I was on cloud nine when I received a message from the department telling me that I was going to be employed," Ngcobo said.
440 graduates in jobs galore
THE KwaZulu-Natal department of agriculture, environmental affairs and rural development yesterday hired 440 unemployed graduates to work as assistant extension officers in communities
Addressing the graduates at the department's Cedara Auditorium in Pietermaritzburg, MEC Lydia Johnson expressed satisfaction that most graduates were young people.
She said their role would be to advise farmers on crop and animal production.
"The assistant extension officers will work in their respective communities and will be mentored by senior extension officers.
"This will enhance the implementation of food security programmes like the One Home One Garden campaign, Livestock Improvement program and other projects," Johnson said.
She said the graduates would also be part of a skills upgrading programme in which the department would facilitate the completion of their NQF level 7 training, which would then qualify them for a degree.
Johnson said the department was aiming to recruit 800 assistant extension officers for the 2011-12 financial year.
She said the 440 graduates would start work on April 1.
"I have a child who looks up to me for everything and I am glad I will finally have the means to support my family," he said.
"I spent the past years at home and applying for jobs but I never lost hope."
Ngcobo said she had turned to voluntary teaching, though agriculture was her first choice.
"Voluntary teaching turned out to be my source of income but I always kept applying for jobs.
"I was on cloud nine when I received a message from the department telling me that I was going to be employed," Ngcobo said.
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