A partnership between the departments of education, water affairs and forestry is expected to produce 42,000 jobs over the next six years, government said on Thursday.

Women and youth will be first in line for the jobs when they will be asked to build the infrastructure to supply 2800 schools in KwaZulu-Natal with water and sanitation facilities.

"It is one of the worst affected provinces where 33 percent of its 5751 schools operate without water or sanitation," said Water Affairs and Forestry minister, Ronnie Kasrils.

In announcing the national schools water and sanitation programme, Kasrils said that through its partnership with the Department of Education and other organisations it would eventually supply fresh water and proper sanitation facilities to thousands of schools across the country.

"Furthermore, in certain areas the pupils will learn how to grow food and supplement their diets with home-grown vegetables" he said.

He added that while all phases of the programme allowed for personal development and ultimately improved chances of finding a job, the main job creating aspect would be in the building of the project's infrastructure.

Departmental spokesman Themba Khumalo said jobs would be given to women and unemployed youth as they were often overlooked.

"Also it's the women and children who have to walk many miles to fetch clean drinking water and so we thought they should be the ones to benefit," he said.

The programme is expected to create 42,000 jobs over the next six years, translating into fifteen workers per school.

Umgeni Water has been tasked with co-ordinating and administering the project - Sapa.