recapitalisation celebration
9 March 2009
The Free State Department of Education (FSDoE) celebrated Motheo FET College
Recapitalisation Project. The celebration is aimed at showcasing the impact
that the Recapitalisation Project has made. The objective of the celebration
also, is to recognise the contribution of government towards the
recapitalisation of FET colleges.
The event kicked-off at the college's central office, before the entourage
visited the Bloemfontein Campus of the college, where they were briefed on some
of the projects undertaken as part of the recapitalisation project. The college
also showcased how they are going to address the skills needs of the
communities they serve and the skills needs as contemplated in Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) and Joint Initiative on
Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA).
In his keynote address, the Acting MEC for Education, Mr Mxolisi Dukwana
said the education system in our country has a peculiar history. He said it is
peculiar in that it sought to disintegrate the society through systematically
designed discrepant laws and regulations as well as curricula, which were
deliberately intended to demean and undermine the dignity, intellectual
capacity and moral values of the majority of people in the country.
MEC Dukwana said "it is partly through the latter background that even
today, we still have much to do in order to realise a transformed and truly
democratic society in which personal and individual needs will be placed in a
social context, to encourage acceptance of diversity, and to foster commitment
to the values and principles espoused in our Constitution.
"I'd like to believe that an education system of any country should not
exist simply to serve economic needs, important as that may be. But it must
also be capable of enriching the learner and broader society, more especially
so within the context of our young and developing democracy here in our
country. The imperative to transform South African society by making use of
various transformative tools stems from a need to address the legacy of
apartheid in all areas of human activity, and in education in particular."
According to the MEC a transformed, high quality and responsive Further
Education and Training system is a crucial investment for the future of this
province. He said the ongoing transformation of the FET colleges remains one of
the department's priorities to ensure best articulation of provincial skills
strategy, with programs offered by the colleges.
"The introduction of the FET college sector brought a new epoch for
technical and vocational education and training in our system. To us, the FET
college sector is a major driver of emerging skills revolution in South Africa.
We believe that the future of this province is in the hands of our youth who
are currently at school, as well as those who have already left school."
He said it is therefore important to make sure that the colleges are
structured in a manner which will enable them to provide the youth with
intermediate as well he as high level skills which will prepare them to
participate meaningfully in the development of the province and the country as
a whole."
"We believe that provision of relevant market related skills will contribute
towards our quest to quell poverty and unemployment which is threatening to
obliterate our society. We regard our FET colleges as a vital instrument for
the promotion of economic growth, skills development and a strategic platform
through which we forge more community development partnerships with the private
sector and institutions of higher learning.
"We believe that through this sector, we will be able to lure more youth and
women into commerce and industry in order to enhance our provincial economy for
the benefit of the citizenry of our province."
The MEC further acknowledged the strides already made in transforming the
FET college sector into a skills development tool which empowers people to
contribute more effectively to the economic development of the province, by
seeking to become job creators other than wrestling for scarce job
opportunities.
He emphasised that it is important to have a close relationship between the
FET college sector and private and other public sectors.
"Without this relationship the FET colleges will not be able to produce
graduates with the requisite skills, nor will the individuals be able to pursue
new career opportunities. The collaboration is important if learners will be
given the necessary work mentorship. Mentorship programs, both formal and
informal have proven to be successful for individual as well as group training.
Our FET college sector together with their business sector counterparts should
be ready to carry out this important task," he said.
Enquiries:
Solly Magalefa
Tel: 051 404 8314
Cell: 082 573 3404
Fax: 051 404 8082
E-mail: magalefasr@edu.fs.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Free State Provincial Government
9 March 2009
