GEORGE NEWS - The National Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, visited the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) offices on Monday 21 July to discuss the importance of skills development and how to boost related programmes in the region.
The Council’s speaker, Georlene Wolmarans, welcomed Gondwe and said the district has placed significant emphasis on creating an enabling environment for youth development, education and work-based learning opportunities - a commitment reflected in the district’s adoption of the Skills Mecca model, she said.
The discussions mainly revolved around the effectiveness of the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) in the district and matters of the National Skills Development legislation.
The Office of the Municipal Manager’s strategic manager, Thembani Loliwe, who is responsible for overseeing the programme since 1 July, delivered a thorough overview presentation about the GRSM.
It covered topics ranging from the initiative’s inception to the number of skills development programmes created and implemented across the district, to the partnerships with various stakeholders, such as the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta) and National Skills Fund.
Gondwe enquired about the collaboration between the GRDM and TVET colleges to ensure student success and their placements in organisations for practical skills development.
Dr Florus Prinsloo replied that work has already been put into agreements by the GRDM and certain colleges, but that the development of task teams to ensure the finalisation of agreements hindered the processes.
Gondwe questioned how the GRSM is implemented on local municipal level in the district. Loliwe explained about the Skills Mecca technicians who are placed at each municipality. Prinsloo said their placement is a co-ordinated structure, as they have to fulfil a certain role in their respective local municipalities and have a responsibility to report back through the structure what skills development progress has been made.
Loliwe raised the importance of aligning local and national efforts to strengthen skills development, improve co-ordination and ensure that communities benefit from inclusive and future-fit education systems. She made an example of the issue of exclusivity. She highlighted the need to consider various aspects when formalising agreements, such as the distance the youth must travel to get to TVET colleges.
“The distance they have to travel from Knysna to Plett or George puts an extra financial burden on these students, resulting in them dropping out and ending up in front of spaza shops,” she said.
The deputy minister committed to sharpen skills development in the district, stating that close relations between the GRDM and the Office of the Deputy Minister would foster growth.
In closing, Nompumelelo Ndayi, the GRDM’s MMC for Corporate Services, extended some words of gratitude to Gondwe for her visit to the GRDM and said: “The GRDM appreciates the commitment of your office to strengthening skills development across all levels of government and society. This will realise a skills development agenda that is responsive, inclusive and forward-thinking.”
The GRDM’s Deputy Mayor, Vlancio Donson, also thanked all the councillors, officials, stakeholders and partners who participated and shared their thoughts and ideas.
“By working together, we can build skills and create more opportunities for our people,” he concluded.
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