Gondwe's sober take on skills

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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The importance of obtaining a skill for which there is a demand was the key point of Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr Mimmy Gondwe's address to faculty members, management and student leaders of South Cape College (SCC).

"The rate of unemployment is just too high. These are extraordinary times, and we need extraordinary solutions," said Gondwe during her visit on Friday 11 October.

"Education is a means to an end, and what is the end? Surely for a person to get a job, isn't it? To put food on the table, to make sure your siblings are going to school."

GALLERY - Mimmy Gondwe meets students, management of South Cape College

Gondwe asked for a revision of the educational programmes at the six campuses of SCC, with an eye on demand for certain occupational trades in the job market.

This is in fact something that SCC has already started. Many of the previous course offerings at SCC are being slowly phased out to make space for something new: coding, artificial intelligence and software engineering. On 1 November, the first 30 intakes will start with a course in coding at the Hessequa Campus.

"This is only the start," said college principal Dr Tercia Terblanche. Upgrades for existing workshops in four occupational trades are underway.

Terblanche said the lack of physical space to develop and grow SCC George Campus is one of their biggest challenges.

Dr Tercia Terblanche (left), the principal of the college, with Amanda Baleni, a lecturer at George Campus, and Gondwe. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Deputy with a mission

SCC is the second TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) college visited by Gondwe during her 100 days in office.

The first one was Motheo TVET College in Bloemfontein, that nowadays offers a maritime programme despite being an inland college.

"This makes me so proud," said Gondwe. "They have aspirations to build a simulator that will ensure that students don't always have to go to sea for their practicals."

Gondwe's department oversees over 100 entities, including colleges and universities, and the NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme).

Dr Mimmy Gondwe (middle) meets two of the student leaders, Ayabongo Mxinwa (right), chairperson of the student representative council (SRC) and Nomvula Plaatjie, member of the SRC. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

She said it is no easy job, and with the Government of National Unity she is now part of the solution, and can't criticise from the opposition benches any more.

"There is one thing I want to be remembered for," said Gondwe. "It is not enough for us to skill young people in skills.

"We have to skill them in skills that are in demand. Young people must be brought into the economy, either as employees, or as someone who can create employment opportunities for others.

"We need to resuscitate our relationship with the private sector."

Gondwe welcomed at South Cape College George Campus. Photo: Michelle Pienaar