Question No. 16
Mr M L Fransman (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
(a) To what extent has the national human resource development (HRD) strategy been incorporated into the respective government departments and programmes that champion the five priority focus areas of the national development agenda (details furnished) and (b) what (i) measures have been put in place to monitor the implementation and integration of the national HRD strategy in the government, parastatals and the private sector and (ii) progress has been made in respect of human resource development in the past 16 years?
Reply:
Our government, together with other stakeholders, is working to ensure that we improve our skills and human resource base.
Last year, we decided to split the education department into two stand-alone departments, to focus on basic education as well as higher education and training.
This was meant to enable government to ensure dedicated focus to each area, and to provide basic education more attention as a critical foundation phase.
Government is establishing a comprehensive Human Resource Development policy framework, which will be linked to the country’s development and investment strategy, and the five development priorities.
The scope and importance of the HRD for South Africa’s development agenda dictates that its success depends on the full contribution of all social partners.
While government has a significant role to play in terms of its mandate and the public resources it holds, it cannot perform this role optimally without substantive input and participation from other stakeholders.
Cabinet will soon consider the Human Resource Development Strategy South Africa 2009 document. Already, wide-ranging consultations have been held both inside and outside of government.
Honourable Fransman, all the five priorities that you refer to - namely Education, Health, Rural Development, Decent Work and the fight against Crime have been incorporated in the ten objectives of in the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF).
All government departments are working towards these objectives.
The ten objectives of the MTSF have been converted into 12 outcomes and the President has signed performance agreements with the respective Ministers on these.
Ministers are currently consulting with delivery partners from national and provincial departments, to finalise delivery agreements detailing the specifics of delivery.
Some of the 12 outcomes of government explicitly take forward the commitments of the Human Resources Development Strategy.
The achievement of all of our key outcomes will depend on a skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path.
It must be noted that the National Skills Development Strategy three, currently being finalised by the Department of Higher Education and Training also incorporates the key objective of the HRDSA.
Measures have been put in place to monitor the implementation and integration of the HRDSA in government, parastatals and the private sector.
Human resource development is to be monitored through a council led by the Honourable Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Monitoring mechanisms will include all role-players in the strategy.
There has been a significant expansion and growth in further and higher education and training over the past 16 years.
Research and development activity in the economy increased significantly, making the target of one per cent of GDP achievable in the near future.
The dramatic growth and expansion of the education system has enabled the country to achieve high enrolment rates at school level.
Despite the expansion and growth of schooling, participation rates at Further Education and Training Colleges and other higher education institutions, levels are low. Quality remains a real challenge across the system.
The introduction of learnerships has also added to the programme by ensuring that new graduates are exposed to the job market for practical experience.
This has enabled young South Africans to be marketable. In the public sector, the PALAMA Institute has been able to offer job specific training to the Management and Leadership teams of the public sector.
Another key development of the past 16 years is the introduction of legislation that compels the private sector to invest in skills development by introducing a skills levy and skills development plans. All in all, we are on track to introduce a comprehensive human resource development programme.
We will rely on all stakeholders; especially Members of Parliament, to work with us in making it succeed for the sake of the country.
