The main contribution of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) towards job creation initiatives is primarily through the supply of skills required to build the various sectors of the economy.
Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, said this morning as he led a panel discussion on the role of public-private partnerships in creating more jobs in the country. On the panel with him were Chief Executives of private and public sector organisations.
“In executing our core function, Education and Training also contributes directly to the creation of jobs through the employment of academic and support staff, as well as through our post-school infrastructure expansion programme. The sector further provides a mechanism for skilling and training individuals within the built environment, artisan development and placement of students for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) across all the 18 Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs),” Minister Nzimande said.
The DHET is responsible for the SIP number 14, which relates to the building of the two new universities (in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape), various university infrastructure projects, the building of 12 new FET college campuses and extensive upgrading of the existing FET college campuses. Government has adopted an Infrastructure Plan, divided into a number of SIPs which will transform the economic landscape in terms of the economic infrastructure.
“SIP 14 on its own is a R12.6 billion rand initiative, with R2.5 billion for FET infrastructure, R8 billion for various university infrastructure projects which includes R2 billion co-funding from universities themselves and R2.1 billion for the 2 new universities. The SIP 14 projects will produce 65 742 jobs over the three year period,” Minister Nzimande said.
He said the infrastructure programme will yield additional jobs in areas like building construction, built environment professional space, engineering in different manifestations, construction material manufacturing, construction material retail, training, as well as other potential entrepreneurial activities.
Skills development opportunities such as Learnerships, apprenticeships, internships and graduate placement will also be created whereas within the institutional environment this will also extend to the creation of academic and support services employment opportunities.
Minister Nzimande has been campaigning and urging South African business to embrace the slogan that ‘Together we can turn every workplace into a training space’.
“We call upon the private sector to stretch out your hands to our graduates and provide them with a meaningful induction to the world of work. Employers and business need to build and consolidate partnerships with training providers (particularly FET colleges) to assist them to become incubators of SMMEs, cooperatives and entrepreneurs, and to create a link between education and training to job creation. This is not exclusive to students, but also includes the creation of workplace opportunities for lecturers to keep them up-to-date with new technologies,” the Minister said.
Issued on behalf of the Ministry for Higher Education and Training
Vuyelwa Qinga (Ms)
CD: MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Minister for Higher Education and Training
Tel: 012 312 5538/39
Cell: 076 883 4144
E-mail: Qinga.V@dhet.gov.za
