NFC in Brick and Block Laying Fundamentals
This course develops your ability to plan and carry out building work through sound construction methods and safe site practice.
About the course
This course develops your ability to plan and carry out building work through sound construction methods and safe site practice. Learning combines technical study with practical tasks relevant to Southern African organisations and communities.
What you'll learn
Interpret building drawings and plan a work sequence.
Apply appropriate construction methods to a supervised task.
Inspect completed work and maintain material and site records.
Requirements
Entry follows BMIT foundation-certificate admission rules. English Language is required. Prepare for the subject and its supervised practical work.
African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course Content
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
3 learning levels 10 subjects
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Level 1: Foundation knowledge and safe practice
Africa Indigenous Language: African Kalanga 101Compulsory graduation subject · Year 1
Develop African Kalanga through foundations for africa general certificate of education. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.
Learning outcomes
- Use African Kalanga accurately for Year 1 study and practice.
- Explain language choices to the intended audience.
- Revise your work using speaker and facilitator feedback.
Main topics
- Pronunciation
- Everyday vocabulary
- Listening
- Reading and respectful introductions
Practical task
Record a short introduction and explain its meaning to a peer.
Assessment
Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.
Building Drawings and Measurements
Build foundation skills in building drawings and measurements. Guided examples introduce building symbols and plans and sections, followed by practice with scale and lengths and areas. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use material estimates and measurement records to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain building symbols and plans and sections using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving scale and lengths and areas.
- Review your work using material estimates and measurement records.
Main topics
- Building symbols
- Plans and sections
- Scale
- Lengths and areas
- Material estimates
- Measurement records
Practical task
Complete a guided building drawings and measurements task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Safe Work and Site Preparation
Build foundation skills in safe work and site preparation. Guided examples introduce site hazards and protective equipment, followed by practice with tool inspection and material handling. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use work boundaries and housekeeping to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain site hazards and protective equipment using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving tool inspection and material handling.
- Review your work using work boundaries and housekeeping.
Main topics
- Site hazards
- Protective equipment
- Tool inspection
- Material handling
- Work boundaries
- Housekeeping
Practical task
Complete a guided safe work and site preparation task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Level 2: Technical subjects and guided application
Masonry Materials and Mortar
Build foundation skills in masonry materials and mortar. Guided examples introduce bricks and blocks, followed by practice with aggregates and binders. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use mortar proportions and storage to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain bricks and blocks using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving aggregates and binders.
- Review your work using mortar proportions and storage.
Main topics
- Bricks
- Blocks
- Aggregates
- Binders
- Mortar proportions
- Storage
Practical task
Complete a guided masonry materials and mortar task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Setting Out and Foundations
Build foundation skills in setting out and foundations. Guided examples introduce site reference points and building lines, followed by practice with right angles and foundation concepts. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use levels and checks to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain site reference points and building lines using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving right angles and foundation concepts.
- Review your work using levels and checks.
Main topics
- Site reference points
- Building lines
- Right angles
- Foundation concepts
- Levels
- Checks
Practical task
Complete a guided setting out and foundations task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Brick and Block Laying
Build foundation skills in brick and block laying. Guided examples introduce bond patterns and corners, followed by practice with courses and mortar beds. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use line and level and joint finishing to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain bond patterns and corners using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving courses and mortar beds.
- Review your work using line and level and joint finishing.
Main topics
- Bond patterns
- Corners
- Courses
- Mortar beds
- Line and level
- Joint finishing
Practical task
Complete a guided brick and block laying task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Concrete and Basic Finishes
Build foundation skills in concrete and basic finishes. Guided examples introduce concrete ingredients and basic formwork, followed by practice with placement principles and curing. You will complete a supervised task, explain your choices and use surface finishes and defect observations to review the result.
Learning outcomes
- Explain concrete ingredients and basic formwork using a practical example.
- Complete a guided task involving placement principles and curing.
- Review your work using surface finishes and defect observations.
Main topics
- Concrete ingredients
- Basic formwork
- Placement principles
- Curing
- Surface finishes
- Defect observations
Practical task
Complete a guided concrete and basic finishes task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
Assessment
Assessment uses the completed task, a short knowledge check and your explanation of the result. Correct errors after feedback and demonstrate the revised work.
Level 3: Enterprise and integrated proficiency
Africa Indigenous Language: African Kalanga 201Compulsory graduation subject · Year 2
Develop African Kalanga through applied communication for africa general certificate of education. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.
Learning outcomes
- Use African Kalanga accurately for Year 2 study and practice.
- Explain language choices to the intended audience.
- Revise your work using speaker and facilitator feedback.
Main topics
- Workplace vocabulary
- Questions
- Instructions
- Short messages and feedback
Practical task
Prepare and test a bilingual message for a realistic community or workplace situation.
Assessment
Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.
Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication
Study the development of a viable small enterprise from a defined customer need. Guided practice centres on a small-enterprise plan and test record, drawing on customer problems and enterprise opportunities and products, services and value propositions. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Define a customer need and a practical enterprise response.
- Estimate resources, costs and cash requirements.
- Revise a business proposal using evidence from a small market test.
Main topics
- Customer problems and enterprise opportunities
- Products, services and value propositions
- Startup resources and operating costs
- Pricing, cash flow and basic records
- Market testing and customer feedback
- Business risks, responsibilities and growth choices
Practical task
For Small Enterprise Records and Customer Communication, prepare a small-enterprise plan and test record in a brick and block laying setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records. Use guided tasks with feedback and a further attempt after corrections.
Building Skills Proficiency
Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate building drawings and measurements, safe work and site preparation within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Learning outcomes
- Plan and complete an integrated task to agreed criteria.
- Demonstrate safe and consistent practical performance.
- Explain the result and correct identified weaknesses.
Main topics
- Interpreting an integrated work brief
- Preparing tools, information and resources
- Demonstrating the required technical skills
- Checking output against agreed criteria
- Responding to faults and assessor feedback
- Presenting evidence and explaining decisions
Practical task
Complete a supervised building project or full simulation, with setting-out records, material estimates, work methods and quality checks.
Assessment
Direct observation, the completed output, a quality-check record and oral questions provide the evidence for this subject.
Practical Learning
Authentic e-learning at BMIT
BMIT uses Authentic E-Learning to connect your studies with practical problems in your field. You use digital resources to investigate a realistic brief, make decisions and produce work for a defined purpose and audience. Your qualification's activities below put this approach into practice.
How you will learn
The approach draws on nine elements of authentic learning:
- Realistic contexts: Work with situations relevant to your profession or community.
- Purposeful tasks: Investigate a substantial problem with more than one possible solution.
- Expert examples: Examine demonstrations and examples of professional reasoning.
- Different perspectives: Compare sources and consider the needs of different people.
- Collaboration: Share ideas and review work with peers, while showing your own contribution.
- Reflection: Record what worked, what changed and what needs improvement.
- Explanation: Present your reasoning and support your decisions with evidence.
- Guidance: Use tutor feedback and structured support as you develop independence.
- Authentic assessment: Demonstrate learning through the task and its practical outcome.
From a brief to a practical outcome
Start by identifying the problem, intended audience and assessment criteria. Investigate relevant evidence, plan your response and develop an initial solution. Use discussion and feedback to test your ideas, then revise your work and explain your choices.
Digital tools support research, collaboration, simulation and the presentation of evidence. Your output depends on the module. Examples include a business proposal, technical design, tested program, investigation report or community resource. Keep drafts, calculations, test results and reflections to show how your work developed.
The module brief sets the required tasks, individual and group responsibilities, submission format and assessment criteria. The practical activities and supervision requirements for this qualification are set out below.
Research informing this approach
- Herrington, J. Authentic Learning: nine elements of authentic learning.
- Lombardi, M. M. (2007). Authentic learning for the 21st century: An overview. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative.
- Parker, J., Maor, D. and Herrington, J. (2013). Authentic online learning: Aligning learner needs, pedagogy and technology. Issues in Educational Research, 23(2), 227–241.
Use guided online cases, realistic briefs and feedback to develop practical work. Any workplace or community activity requires suitable supervision and permission.
What you will practise
- Safe Work and Site Preparation: Complete a guided safe work and site preparation task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
- Brick and Block Laying: Complete a guided brick and block laying task using a classroom simulation, supplied records or an authorised supervised work area. Record the preparation, work completed and quality checks.
- Building Skills Proficiency: Complete a supervised building project or full simulation, with setting-out records, material estimates, work methods and quality checks.
Applied project
Complete a supervised building project or full simulation, with setting-out records, material estimates, work methods and quality checks.
Evidence and feedback
- A completed practical task with an explanation of the method, evidence and decisions.
- Suggested practical assessment: demonstrate the skill under supervision and keep a record of completed work.
- Use assessor feedback to correct errors and repeat a task until the agreed quality criteria are met.
Assessment considers the practical work you submit, the evidence behind your decisions and how you respond to feedback.
Career Prospects
These examples show work across this qualification pathway, from support roles to specialist and management posts. Your entry point depends on your study, experience and employer requirements. Regulated roles require separate recognition or registration.
Top Career Paths and Job Titles
- Masonry apprentice: Prepares materials and layout under skilled supervision.
- Bricklayer: Builds masonry work to drawings and tolerances.
- Blockwork technician: Checks setting-out, bonding and quality.
- Site works estimator: Plans quantities, sequencing and material needs.
- Masonry team supervisor: Coordinates safe work and finished quality.
Growth and Leadership Trajectory
- Starting practice: After meeting entry and any registration requirements, begin with the work represented by Masonry apprentice. Build supervised experience and keep a record of reliable work.
- Specialist progression: Relevant study and evidence from more complex projects support a move towards Bricklayer or Blockwork technician.
- Leadership: With substantial experience, a role such as Masonry team supervisor adds responsibility for people, quality, budgets or service decisions.
Further Education to Boost Prospects
- Next study step: A related National Certificate in brick and block laying is the usual next level. An intermediate certificate may be needed before diploma entry.
- Continue at BMIT: National Certificate in Civil Building Technology Admission and any credit transfer are assessed separately.
Professional Certifications and Registrations
- Role-specific requirements: No single statutory credential covers every role in brick and block laying. Employers may require a relevant short course, supervised experience or role-specific licence. Check the requirements for the job and country before applying.
Potential Government and Industrial Employers
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: Start or manage a small venture related to this field. Regulated work still requires the relevant professional registration or licence.
- Private and commercial organisations: Construction contractors.
- Specialist employers: Civil engineering consultancies.
- Research and community organisations: Utilities and infrastructure operators.
- Government departments and public bodies: Public works and municipal infrastructure departments.