The Provincial Government of Gauteng has made available a minimum of 300 placement opportunities for graduates from Further Education and Training Colleges and Universities in all government institutions in the province, including departments and municipalities as part of its response to provide work placement opportunities and reduce graduate unemployment.
This was as a result of engagements between the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, with the Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee, led by Premier Nomvula Mokonyane. Similar discussions between officials of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Provincial administration cemented the details of this initiative.
“The response of the Gauteng leadership to this clarion call we have been making to both the public and private sector institutions to turn every workplace into a training space is very exciting, especially for our youth in terms of giving them hope and increasing their chances of employment. The cherry on top is that 300 is only a minimum work-placements being offered. I call on the rest of the public service, and the private sector, to follow the Gauteng Provincial government example,” Minister Nzimande said.
Minister Nzimande has in the past also called upon the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to not only fund partnerships between educational institutions and employers, but to also use their influence and labour market knowledge to promote work-place placements while students are studying and placing them in jobs after they complete their studies. In response to the Minister’s call, the SETAs have started opening offices at all 50 FET Colleges in the country.
When Government signed the National Skills Accord with organised Business, Labour and community organisation in 2011, all parties agreed to increase the numbers of apprenticeships, learnerships and internships in both the public and private sectors, with specific numerical targets agreed upon.
“A central role in this regard is to be played by the state-owned enterprises. Government has to lead the way, most particularly for our FET graduates,” Minister Nzimande said.
All government departments in Gauteng, including entities and agencies within the scope of the Provincial Government, as well as municipalities, have started an exercise to determine specific competencies and skills required for placement opportunities, which will then be matched against the graduates and students available on the DHET database.
“I am told by officials that as we speak, a total of 1500 placement opportunities in just three Provincial Government departments have already been identified,” the Minister said.
