Letsatsi Selikoe 

IN a bid to bridge the gap between academia and industry, the Roads Directorate has launched its first-ever graduate internship programme, welcoming 14 young engineers into the fold. 

The?innovative initiative aims to provide practical experience to the new professionals, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their careers. 

The two-year programme is designed to create a sustainable stream of skilled talent for Lesotho’s road infrastructure development. 

The Road Fund has generously provided M2.5 million to kickstart the Internship Programme in the current financial year. 

According to the Director Road Network Development, Teboho Mokhoane, the aim of this initiative is to give skills to newly graduated engineers with?degrees?in civil and electrical engineering. 

He emphasised that there?was?a norm in the country of requesting several years of experience from applicants, which hinders most people from getting employed. 

“We decided to reach out to the government by helping close the skills gap for those who just graduated,” Mr Mokhoane said. 

“The initiative is specifically targeting young engineers who studied diploma courses in Lesotho and were later taken abroad by the government to pursue degree courses. 

“The Roads Directorate hopes to bring them back home to implement their skills here rather than being taken by other companies abroad.” 

After a call for applications, 14 candidates were selected after a rigorous interview process. Although they were looking for 18 candidates, Mr Mokhoane explained that they couldn’t find four more suitable candidates among the applicants. 

“The initiative is not only about providing practical experience but also about creating a pool of qualified candidates for future employment opportunities within the country. We hope that after completing their internship, these young engineers will be employed by our organization or other companies in Lesotho.” 

Mr Mokhoane expressed his hope that soon they will have a proper plan with the government to ensure that these interns get hired after completing their training. 

“We believe that this programme will not only benefit our organisation but also contribute to the growth and development of Lesotho’s young engineers,” he added. 

One of the selected candidates, Lehlonoholo Seitlheko, expressed his gratitude and excitement at being chosen for the programme. 

“I feel honoured and blessed to have been given this opportunity. The selection criteria were so tight, you could tell they meant business, so having gone through that and came out victorious is just a sign of grace.” 

He also expressed his hope that other companies will follow suit and initiate similar programmes to support young engineers in the country. 

“There were?huge numbers?of us who attended the interviews, and only 14 were needed, which tells you there are a lot of us who are still seated outside looking for opportunities like this one,” he said. 

Mr Seitlheko said he was looking forward to gaining valuable experience during the two-year programme. 

“I am excited to learn and gain new skills that will help me to grow professionally. I am also hoping for a greater outcome, which is obviously a permanent job after completing the internship.” 

He said he believed the programme would not only benefit him but also contribute to the development of Lesotho’s infrastructure. 

“I am grateful to the Roads Directorate for giving me this opportunity, and I promise to work hard and make the most of it,” he said.