Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has today, 5 August 2011, chaired the fifth meeting of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDCSA) at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.
The meeting received a presentation from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Chief Executive Officer Commander Tsietsi Mokhele on the South African Maritime Skills development model highlighting opportunities for absorbing unemployed youth and creation of linkages with post schools institutions.
Amongst the opportunities, the CEO highlighted the case of seafarer's skills development and jobs. The presentation highlighted other skills in the following areas within the Maritime sector, Transport and shipping, Marine resources and marine tourism that has a potential to create over 180 000 jobs over the period of 12 years.
Amongst the issues noted by the meeting around the maritime sector is:
- the neglect of the sector and the meeting highlighted the need for its inclusion as a potential job driver in the New Growth Path.
- the need for all social partners to reflect on opportunities, for skills development and job creation for the economy , brought by the sector and address challenges raised holistically.
- skills development neglect in this sector and supported the suggestion for the introduction of the maritime sector education and training authority (SETA).
- the need to explore incentives that will encourage South African companies to own and operate ships in South Africa. This will ensure the growth of the SA maritime sector.
Government through the Departments of Basic Education and of Higher Education and Training expressed an interest in engaging with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and key role players in the maritime industry, including the National Ports Authority and the Navy to explore areas of cooperation around building institutional capacity for maritime skills and education.
The meeting also received a presentation from the Department of Trade and Industry on progress regarding the alignment of the HRDSA with the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP II).
The Council noted the following from the presentation by the department:
- the need to establish a technical task team to investigate and propose best practice models towards training for entrepreneurship and self-employment. This must also look at how to incorporate issues of the disabled.
- the need for systems and processes to be put in place to acknowledge artisans who are informally trained as part of recognition of prior learning and that unqualified artisans should be priority number one.
The Department of Basic Education tabled a progress report on the Annual National Assessment (ANA) for discussion. The meeting noted the results and interventions that are being implemented to address the shortcomings.
Council also recommended the following:
- that emphasis be placed on on-going skilling of teachers to be able to transfer knowledge and not just to use workbooks as a replacement for teacher capacitation.
- the need to relook at the delivery methods, encourage expert knowledge and produce agile teachers who understand the content and are able to explain it in the language that is understood by learners.
- the need to implement programmes to incentivise teachers and to improve accountability of teachers and principals at schools.
- the needs to focus on improving writing skills.
- emphasis on the need to focus on e-learning and train the teachers to use the tools to accelerate the delivery and access to information.
- the need to ensure the visibility of the quality of learning and teaching campaign.
- foundational phase training for graduates and the need to restructure exams properly and allocate more time for classroom learning.
- that all stakeholders support the Department of Basic Education (DBE) by looking at general conditions to protect the learning environment. For instance the impediments that will affect the culture of learning in a negative way such as night clubs liquor stores in close proximity to schools.
- members to note the critical importance of overemphasis on maths and science not neglecting the holistic development to teaching and learning.
The council also requested time frames for delivering on the initiatives and expressed the significance of foundational learning in building strong human resources base for the country. The need for monitoring and evaluation for the DBE strategy for improving schooling.
Finally progress on the work of the Technical Working group and its Technical Task Teams on the delivery of the Council's plan for 2011/12 was noted and applauded. The inclusion and integration of e-skills in the different programmes of Council was emphasised.
The HRDCSA is a national multi-tiered and multi-sectoral advisory body comprising representatives from government, civil society, business, organised labour, professional bodies, higher education and research communities and it is chaired by the Deputy President with the a secretariat residing with the Minister of Higher Education and Training.
The Council will meet again on the 4th of November to review the 18 months progress since establishment.
Enquiries:
Sindiswa Nhlumayo
E-mail: Nhlumayo.s@dhet.gov.za
Cell: 083 411 0832
Tel: 012 312 5075
Statement by the Human Resource Development Council Secretariat
