Master of Ceremonies Zozo Siyengo
Leaders from the Chamber of Commerce
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Premier has given us a broad overview of the objectives of FET, where it fits into the province's Human Resource Development Plan and Ikapa Elihlumayo.
So I just want to highlight a few reasons why I am looking forward to 2006 (the year in which we intend to implement the new curriculum).
One of the targets President Thabo Mbeki set about what needs to be done in education before the end of the financial year in March 2005, is the re-capitalisation of FET colleges to ensure relevance to the needs of our economy.
Proficiency in numeracy and maths forms the basis for many of our further education and training fields in science, technology, engineering, business and accountancy. It is key to the development and progress of any society.
At the moment, our country has too few skilled people in this area to sustain the long-term developmental needs of our increasingly globalised economy. The pool from which we could tap in the past, was concentrated in one segment of our community over too many years, with the result that we are now having a bit of a backlog.
The introduction of Further Education and Training in our schools is potentially the most radical policy shift to date in our education system. If managed skilfully, we can go a long way in overcoming the legacy of the past.
International education practices dictate that sixty per cent of learners ought to be in the vocational stream and roughly only fourty per cent in the academic stream.
At the moment we have a too strong focus on the academic stream of our education and this is not sustainable. Our education system must adjust to the new demands and realities of the increasingly challenging global economic order.
FET is intended to address the skills shortage, by creating a pool of specialised labour in economic and development professions from an early age. This will also broaden our skills base.
If we are indeed serious about "Growing the Cape" as a Learning Home for All, we need to improve the amount of graduates with maths, science and technology skills.
Through the introduction of FET, we are determined to provide quality education for a quality future for everyone. This means access to life-long learning, for FET is not just for the young, but also for workers seeking to improve their skills, people seeking new skills, or people established in a career wanting something new.
Through FET we must instill a culture of life long learning into our education system.
If indeed we are going to "Grow the Cape" as a Learning Home for All, we need partners. Government alone will not succeed. We need to work with the business and commerce industry by creating partnerships and learnerships beneficial to both parties.
The key to remain competitive in the face of ever increasingly hostile global conditions, is innovation and creativity.
To this end, government has already launched a national strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, popularly known as the Dinaledi Schools. We have ten such schools in the Western Cape, one in every district.
The Dinaledi schools are well-resourced centres with mathematics and science equipment, with good management and teacher support provided by Khanya. This strategy seeks to break the cycle of mediocrity, especially by learners from previously disadvantaged communities.
All of this is helping to prepare the ground for maths and science in Further Education and Training (FET) in schools.
I guess one of the major challenges for us now with regards to the implementation of FET, is to embark on a marketing and communication strategy to position the delivery of vocational training and education as a desirable outcome for learners and their parents, and the business community.
This is essential if we are going to truly build this province as a Learning Home for All.
I thank you
For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 577 6551, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Secretary
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za
INtshona Koloni - iKhaya loMntu wonke
Die Wes-Kaap - 'n Tuiste vir Almal
