South Africa’s critical skills shortage is widely acknowledged as an impediment to economic growth. Skills development, across all levels of education and training and across all occupations and disciplines, is fundamental to an inclusive growth path. The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande has signed a performance agreement with the President which guides the work of his department in relation to skills development in the post-school education and training system.
The minister will this week host a National Skills Summit which aims at facilitating consultative engagement with relevant stakeholders. Minister Nzimande said his department sought to develop close cooperative agreements and relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in order to meet the skills development objectives. This will be the first time that the entire spectrum of issues relating to skills development both on the “supply-side” and the “demand-side” come under scrutiny.
The Skills Summit will serve as a platform for dialogue among all constituencies with involvement in skills development, including, education and training institutions, the Sector Education and Training Authorities, professional councils, employers, organised labour and various parastatals and statutory bodies.
Issues under discussion include the following outputs in the minister’s performance agreement:
- Establishing a credible institutional mechanism for skills planning
- Increasing access to intermediate and high level learning for youth and adults who do not meet entry requirements for post-school programmes
- Increasing access to occupationally-directed programmes in needed areas with special focus on artisan training
- Increasing access to high level skills in target areas such as in the fields of engineering, animal and health sciences, physical and life sciences and teacher education
- Research, development and innovation in human capital for a growing knowledge economy.
The work of government and other sectors in relation to skills development will be guided by the soon to be launched Human Resource Development Strategy. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who chairs the Human Resource Development Council, will outline government’s systematic response to the country’s skills challenge when he addresses a cocktail function during the summit on Thursday evening.
Details of the summit:
Date: 9 to 10 September 2010
Venue: Saint George Hotel, Irene
Highlights of the agenda:
9 September 2010
- 9 am: Minister Nzimande delivers the keynote address
- 11 am: Director-General Mary Metcalfe will provide an overview of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation outcomes which will inform breakaway discussions
- 6:30 pm: Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe addresses cocktail function
10 September 2010
- 8:30 am: Report back on delivery agreements
- 11:30 am: Presentation and signing of summit declaration
- 12:30 pm: Closing address by Minister Nzimande
All media are invited to attend.
For more information contact:
Ranjeni Munusamy
Tel: 012 312 5555 or 021 465 5513
Cell: 0725712812
E-mail: munusamy.r@dhet.gov.za
