Higher Education Deputy Minister launches Decade of the Artisan Programme
Following the phenomenal success of last year’s Year of the Artisan Programme, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mduduzi Manana, MP, in collaboration with key partners in the higher education landscape, will officially launch the Decade of the Artisan.
The Decade of the Artisan campaign, which will commence in 2014, seeks to promote artisanry as a career of choice to South Africa’s youth within the post school education and training system as well as to highlight skills development opportunities that are available in artisanry.
Following the official launch of The Year of the Artisan campaign by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande in February last year, one of the key priorities of the South African Government is to develop qualified artisans in an effort to support the South African economy, particularly in light of the successful implementation of the Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) that were announced by President Jacob Zuma in his 2012 State of the Nation Address.
The SIPs include the building of roads, schools, universities, harbours, power stations and other social and economic infrastructure. The Decade of the Artisan consequently seeks to bring into sharp focus the need for the production of artisans as part of the national strategy to deal with the shortage of critical skills in South Africa.
The details of the event are as follows:
Date: Monday, 3 February 2014
Time: 10h00 to 16h00
12h00 to 12h30 (media briefing)
Venue: Ekurhuleni East College, Sam Ngema Road, Kwa Thema
Enquiries:
Ms Kefilwe Makhanya
Cell: 072 285 8662
E-mail: makhanya.k@dhet.gov.za
