N Pandor: Western Cape Education FET College Achiever Awards

19 November 2007

Cameron Dugmore, Education MEC
Swartz, Superintendent General of the Western Cape Education Department
CEOs of the six FET Colleges
Managers from the respective FET Colleges in the Western Cape
Chairpersons of the six Student Representative Councils
Government Officials
Skills and Education and Training Authority (Seta) Representatives
Judges
Distinguished guests
Honoured Achiever Award nominees

It gives me great pleasure to be here with you today. Thank you for inviting
me to celebrate with you the highlights and achievements of the Further
Education and Training (FET) college sector in the Western Cape. The Fourth FET
Colleges Achiever Awards offers us an opportunity to celebrate the excellence
and achievement in our FET colleges. It is an opportunity to show our gratitude
to those who have made a difference in our colleges.

This award ceremony is held at a time when the expectations and pressure for
the expanded delivery of vocational education in South Africa and worldwide has
never been higher. South Africa is short of priority skills that are necessary
to ensure wider access and participation in the county's growing economy. FET
colleges are central to the delivery of these priority skills.

As part of our plans for economic growth and social development, we have to
ensure that the FET colleges are given a proper platform to contribute to South
Africa's competitiveness. This is essential for us to create opportunities for
economic participation for our youth. It is crucial that we should be
internationally competitive in order for us to be able to retain our skilled
youth.

These awards take place at a time when FET colleges are undergoing change.
Having successfully merged 150 Technical Colleges into 50 FET colleges with
multiple campus sites over the past five years, we need ensure that they offer
excellent programmes and training to their students.

There is a lot to celebrate about the progress we have made in this regard.
The government committed R1,9 billion to the recapitalisation of FET colleges.
As we speak, many colleges boast the state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide
relevant programmes to the county's youth.

We have now reached the halfway mark in the implementation of this programme
and already the returns on investment are becoming evident. In the Western Cape
40 campus sites have been upgraded, 52 workshops, 96 classrooms, 23
student-resource centres have also been refurbished; three computer
laboratories have been constructed. New equipment for the 12 NC (V) programmes
has been procured.

While providing the minimum infrastructure required by FET colleges, we
introduced new, relevant and responsive programmes, under the National
Certificate (Vocational) (NC (V)). In 2007 we commenced with the process of
phasing out the old Nated programmes. These NC (V) programmes were discussed
with all stakeholders including industry, the Nated programmes had been
existence for well passed their sell-by date and were in serious need of
modernisation.

We are pleased at the positive response and undertaking provided by industry
in relation to the quality and relevance of these programmes. These programmes
allow for both horizontal and vertical articulation. Our college graduates can
now progress to further study in higher education, employment or become
entrepreneurs.

As part of our commitment towards improving access to FET by our youth, in
2007 we launched the Department of Education FET colleges Bursary Scheme. R600
million was set aside by Treasury over a three-year period.

I am pleased with the efforts made by FET colleges and their staff in
administering these bursaries. Over 12 500 students registered at NC (V) Level
two have been awarded bursaries. This is almost half of the students registered
for NC (V) programmes at FET colleges in 2007.

I am very pleased to see that more than 1 500 out of a total of 3 222 NC (V)
students in the Western Cape have received bursaries. We may have the entire
infrastructure we need, we may also have quality programmes but without
well-equipped lecturers, all this will be in vain. Lecturers are an integral
part of the success of FET colleges. I wish to take this opportunity to
congratulate our lecturers and college staff for the maturity that they have
displayed in understanding and adapting to the changes that we have brought
about in the sector and to their conditions of employment.

I am very pleased that we have amongst us chairpersons of Student
Representative Councils (SRCs) from all the six FET colleges in the province.
Some institutional leaders have expressed concern at student involvement in key
governance matters in post-school education. It is critical that SRCs
participate and are meaningfully involved in decision-making at FET colleges
and universities. Such participation is part of the preparation of mature
informed leadership for South Africa. I hope that this mandate, which emerges
from the colleges, will be honoured by all colleges. SRCs also have a
responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that advances the interests of
the institution and society and students.

Participation has been codified in the FET colleges Act. I hope and trust
that, as required by the Act, SRCs and students are provided with the necessary
support at all our FET colleges. My department has produced a Student Support
Services Framework to give effect to the provisions of the Act. May I also take
this opportunity to thank all the partners, donors, and sponsors of FET
colleges locally, nationally and internationally for their contributions to the
success of the FET Sector.

The transformation of South Africa and its institutions is complex. This is
why government believes the private sector can play a role in partnering
government in advancing social change. Our new college policy affirms links
with industry and other partners; I hope these links will be strengthened.

Thanks to all the other donors and sponsors who have recognised the vital
role and potential contribution of the FET colleges to our nation’s
socio-economic development. The colleges are well placed in policy terms. They
are ready to play a dynamic role in closing the skills gaps in South Africa, in
offering young people real opportunities to learn new skills, and to create new
jobs and establish their own enterprises.

In closing, allow me to reflect on the gaps in skills currently documented
by recent researchers. Earlier this year Cisco told us that we are already
short of about 70 000 networking professionals (general, basic routing and
switching, and more advanced - security, wireless, and IP telephony). Earlier
this year Microsoft opened its Schools Technology Innovation Centre at a FET
college in Troyeville and reminded us of the shortages of software engineers.
And most other leading ICT companies have established academies or similar
education units to assist us in training.

Earlier this year universities met with leading Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) industry companies to make a plan to meet our
current and projected needs for ICT graduates, because ICT is critical to South
Africa's economic and social development. Over the last decade we have expanded
the number of students in higher education significantly, but we have only just
begun to make further education attractive to students and employers.

Universities and colleges have to work together with employers to deliver
work-relevant and work-based learning; to share responsibility, to share
funding, and to share the opportunity for success. In closing, let me
congratulate all award winners here tonight. For us to succeed in FET we need
many more people like you. Let this ceremony be another means of showing the
education fraternity's appreciation to all of you who contribute to the
improvement of the lives of South Africans through education and training.

Issued by: Department of Education
19 November 2007
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za)