Labour Minister slams critics
Released by The Department of Labour on 26 November 2004

Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana has called upon those who continue to criticise the government’s skills development programme, calling for the closure or scrapping of SETAs, to retract their statements with immediate effect, following dramatic achievements by the SETAs.

Minister Mdladlana, who was speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Health and Welfare Sector Education (HWSETA) said SETAs have collectively exceeded the 80 000 learnership targets set for March 2005.

“The HWSETA rose to the occasion and have 3 577 learners, thereby exceeding the target by 762 learners. Your efforts have added to the ANC government promise to halve unemployment and poverty by 2014.”

He said SETAs have recorded a total of 82 425 learners below the age of 35 in learnerships and apprenticeships by the end of October 2004, despite some teething problems in the first four years of their existence.

Minister Mdladlana also called upon all the SETAs to engage tertiary institutions, as they are strategic partners in achieving learnership goals.

“Their reach and penetration can enable expanded access to the benefits of the skills development strategy. I am also delighted that the National Skills Authority (NSA), in its NSDS draft of 2005 to 2010 has seriously considered the importance of positioning service providers to deliver quality and relevant learning programmes.”

“As we approach the end of the first NSDS in March 2005, there is a need to accelerate the planning and ensuring that the sector skills plans incorporate the new objectives as contained in the draft.”

The Minister emphasised that the HWSETA should ensure adequate numbers of fully accredited training providers across the sector, and the availability of unit standards and curricula for the identified learnerships, in order to support the objectives of the Expanded Public Works Programmes.
 

Enquiries: Name Page Boikanyo
Telephone 082 809 3195