L Xingwana: National Agricultural Education and Training Forum

21 November 2006

Programme Director,
Officials of the provincial departments of agriculture,
Distinguished guests,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon,

The introduction of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) by
government in 1994 established a new socio-economic framework for South Africa.
In agriculture, the programme ushered in the Broadening Access to Agriculture
Thrust (BATAT). One of the pillars of BATAT is human resource development
(HRD).

Through this pillar, BATAT argued for a need to amend the entire approach to
agricultural HRD. BATAT strongly recommended a reinvestigation of the issues of
access to agricultural education and training for the majority of South
Africans.

Not only did BATAT advocate the broadening of access to agricultural
education by the majority of the previously excluded groups of this country, it
also called for the strengthening of both the curriculum and standard of the
available training in agriculture. At that time the realisation of this goal
seemed unachievable. We, however, pulled up our sleeves and began the
marathon.

Ladies and gentlemen, the process of developing the agriculture education
and training (AET) strategy started way back in 2002. All of us sitting here
today remember the transparent and consultative processes around the generation
of the AET strategy.

Through the technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO), consultative structures in the country were established for the
generation of the strategy.

These structures including the National Agriculture Education and Training
and the Provincial Agriculture Education and Training (PAET) and training
technical task teams worked tirelessly every day to produce the strategy. Their
efforts were well rewarded when finally my department officially launched the
strategy on 30 September 2005.

Programme Director, we have now reached the implementation phase. As you
will agree with me this is not an easy task. For its implementation the
strategy itself recommends two measures, the establishment of the NAET forum
and the establishment of the PAET forums.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a great day for the agricultural sector as it
is a first in this country that we have a body such as this. I am actually
pleased to introduce the executive committee of the NAET forum to you.

In establishing the executive committee of this forum, we made a public call
on all the stakeholders to nominate individuals with expertise and good
standing to represent their respective organisations in the NAET forum.

As I have already indicated, the individuals nominated by the various
organisations had to be knowledgeable in the field of AET. They must also be
experts in their own right and must command a good standing in their
constituencies. The following is expected from the executive committee of the
forum:

* bringing the mandate of their respective organisations to the forum and
providing feed back to such organisations
* deliberation on pertinent issues for the improvement of AET
* commissioning task teams on a regular basis to investigate solutions to
identified problems relating to AET
* commencing and facilitating meetings of the forum with clear objectives in
mind and record keeping of all such meetings
* generating pertinent reports with recommendations for my attention.

In line with the terms of reference for the establishment of the forum, the
term of office of the members of the executive committee is three years. The
term of office of the two provincial representatives in the executive committee
is two years. The provincial representatives shall represent the interests of
the nine provinces at any point in time during their membership in the
executive committee. Provincial representation in this regard shall be on a
rotational basis.

After the launch of the executive committee today I will expect members to
meet soon, to orientate themselves on substantive issues of their scope of
work, Constitution, membership of the forum, dates of meetings and any other
matters requiring their attention. My department will always be at the disposal
of the committee to assist in facilitating meetings and in rendering any other
secretarial services.

Programme Director, members of the executive committee of the forum
represent the following organisations:

* Department of Agriculture
* Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSETA)
* AgriSA
* FoodBEV
* South African Teachers' Association (SATA)
* Association of Principals of Agricultural Colleges (APAC)
* Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
* Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP)
* National Research Foundation (NRF)
* Higher Education South Africa (HESA)
* National African Farmers' Union (NAFU)
* National Agricultural Research Forum (NARF)
* Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU)
* Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF)
* Department of Education (DoE)
* South African College Principals' Organisation (SACPO).

I now take this opportunity, Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen, to
officially announce the members of the executive committee of the NAET forum
and the organisations they represent:

* Ms Siphokazi Bokwe, OBP
* Dr Stephanus Esias Terblanche, AgriSA
* Mr Tutu Mashumi, FoodBEV
* Dr Heinz Herbert Meissner, NARF
* Mr Marius Jacubus Paulse, APAC
* Professor Margaret Linington, HESA
* Professor Erasmus Daniel Prinsloo, TAU
* Dr Rocky Skeef, National Research Foundation
* Mr Gerhardus Petrus Viljoen, SATA
* Mr Kanthan Govindasamy Naidoo, Department of Education
* Mr Steven Joseph Mommen, Department of Education
* Mr Maseli Letuka, NAFU
* Ms Lucy Hlubi, UYF
* Ms Lorraine Molope, ARC
* Mr Samuel Nceba Stofile, SACPO
* Mr Sivelile Nompozolo, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture
* Professor Edward Nesamvuni, Limpopo Department of Agriculture
* Mr Mkhululi Mankazana, Department of Agriculture
* Ms Vangile Titi, Department of Agriculture.

I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment to the first
ever NAET forum executive committee and wish you well in your dedicated
endeavour for the improvement of AET for a better life for all in this
country.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Agriculture
21 November 2006