Eastern Cape Premier, Ms Noxolo Kiviet, was today among the 2 000 graduates who obtained their degrees from the University of Fort Hare.
Premier Kiviet graduated with Master of Public Administration. In completing requirements of her programme, her dissertation was on "A critical assessment of the Eastern Cape Legislature in the Governance of the Eastern Cape Province (2004 to 2008)".
The elated premier said her graduation should inspire people to take education seriously as it forms an excellent foundation, not only for realisation of career dreams, but for the advancement of any nation. She said the province had a skills backlog and it was necessary for the people of the Eastern Cape to take advantage of all opportunities that were presented to them and assist the Eastern Cape provincial government in addressing its priority areas that talk to education, training as well as rural development among other things.
The Office of the Premier through the Strategic Skills programme has given training on work based learning programmes to 2 013 young people working with various partners. This has been achieved with the support of the sector education and training authorities (SETAs), further education and training (FET) colleges, provincial departments, municipalities, industrial development zones and a number of private training providers support this project.
Through this project, she said the provincial government has sought to:
* move the province from a low skills base to an intermediate level
* strengthen the role of Further Education and Training colleges and private training providers to spread provision to small towns
* forge strategic partnerships that would ensure effective and relevant provision of youth training programmes throughout the province
* emphasise artisan development and establish systems for trade testing.
Fort Hare Alumni Affairs Director, Mrs Nomawabo Mntambo, welcomed the premier to the institution's Alumni Association and Convocation.
"I know you could have chosen any other institution and yet you made the decision to honour us, thus joining the legions of African leaders who are counted among the illustrious alumni of this university. We thank you for the honour,” she said.
Mrs Mntambo also thanked the premier for the assistance that she has rendered to the under-privileged students of the Eastern Cape, that she supported financially when they could not register with the institution earlier in the year.
"I can see that in you as an alumna, we have a real ambassador who understands the needs and challenges of our university."
Enquiries:
Mncedi Thamie Mgwigwi
Cell: 072 033 8373
Tel: 040 609 6451
Fax: 086 548 726
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
7 May 2010
