E Molewa at Skills Development Conference

25 July 2006

If South Africa is to experience the kind of economic growth and development
that is envisaged by the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South
Africa (AsgiSA), then the major focus must be on addressing the current skills
shortage. This observation was made today by North West Premier, Edna Molewa,
during her opening remarks at the Provincial Skills Development Conference held
in Klerksdorp.

Molewa told the conference that the country and the province are facing a
serious challenge of unacceptably high levels of unemployment coupled with a
persistent scarcity of certain critical skills required by the labour
market.

“This situation has condemned many of our people to conditions of poverty,
unemployment and under-development. It has kept them out of the economic
mainstream and continues to deny them an opportunity to contribute towards the
reconstruction and development of our country,” she said.

Molewa said that, “It was ironic that in the face of unprecedented economic
growth of our country, we still have unacceptably high levels of unemployment
and poverty? What are we doing and what can we do better to ensure that this
amazing growth of our economy is shared fairly among the citizens?”

She said that, “When AsgiSA was launched in July last year, government had
made a firm realisation that the most fatal constraint to the goal of shared
growth in our province and in the country is the shortage of skills. We have no
hope of succeeding in achieving the growth rate of 6 percent or more if we do
not urgently overcome the shortage of suitable skilled labour in our
province.”

Part of the province’s response in this regard she said, “should include
measures to encourage our learners to enrol for those subjects, such as maths
and science, which will improve their chances of being absorbed into the labour
market. We must debunk the myth among our learners that maths and science are
’difficult‘ subjects suitable only to a select group of so called ’clever’
learners. Linked to this is the need for us to continue to improve the skill of
our maths and science teachers as well as the provision of learners support
material for these critical subjects”.

She asked whether enough is being done to help produce specific skills
needed by the economy such as engineering, town planning, artisan, information
communication technology (ICT), mathematics, science and technical skills.

She added, “Are we optimally utilising our retirees, our mentors and
volunteers to areas of need such as our municipalities?”

The conference ends on Thursday.

Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Tel: (018) 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063

Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
25 July 2006