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EDWIN NAIDU
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa praised the Class of 2022 in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Thursday.
“Last year, our matriculants defied the effects of the pandemic to achieve a pass rate of 80%, and we congratulate them for that great achievement,” said Ramaphosa.
“What we have achieved as a nation over the past year, despite our challenges, remind us that the
promise of South Africa is alive.”
Appealing to companies, departments and SOEs to remove the requirement for work experience for young people seeking entry-level positions, the President said skills development was integral to job creation.
Therefore, government would allocate R800m to the National Skills Fund to develop skills in the digital and technology sector through an innovative model that links payment for training to employment outcomes.
“Last year, we said we would place over 10 000 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college graduates in employment. We have surpassed that figure and have now set a target for 2023 of 20 000 TVET to be placed in employment,” he added.
The number of students entering artisan training in TVET colleges will go up from 17 000 to 30 000 in the 2023 academic year.
One of the critical ingredients for economic growth and competitiveness is attracting skills that the economy needs.
Last year, Ramaphosa spoke about the value of the Presidential Employment Stimulus in providing work and livelihood opportunities. The initiative has now created over one million opportunities, reaching every province and district in our country.
Furthermore, a new cohort of 150 000 school assistants began work last week at more than 22 000 schools, offering dignity, hope and vital work experience to unemployed young people.
The Social Employment Fund is recruiting 50 000 participants in its next phase to undertake work for the common good.
The revitalised National Youth Service will create a further 36 000 opportunities through non-profit and community-based organisations.
The Department of Home Affairs has appointed the first cohort of 10 000 unemployed young people to digitise more than 340 million paper-based civic records.
There are now more than three million users registered on SAYouth.mobi, a zero-rated online platform for young South Africans to access opportunities for learning and earning.
This has been done in close collaboration with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), which continues to provide valuable assistance to young entrepreneurs and work seekers.
“These are examples of the difference government can make in people’s lives through innovation, creativity and commitment. Access to quality education for all is the most powerful instrument to end poverty,” he said.
Ramaphosa added that laying a better foundation through Early Childhood Development for young children was critical so they could write and read to learn and develop.
Significantly, the number of children receiving the Early Childhood Development (ECD) subsidy doubled between 2019 and 2022, reaching one-and-a-half million children.
The Department of Basic Education is streamlining the requirements for ECD centres to access support and enable thousands more to receive subsidies from the government.
While at the other end of the primary education journey, Ramaphosa applauded last year’s matric pass rate of 80%, with all provinces showing improved results – up from 76% the year before.
The share of bachelor passes in no-fee schools improved from 55% in 2019 to 64% in 2022.
“These results reveal that a silent revolution is taking place in our schools. Schools must be safe and
allow for effective learning and teaching,” he added.
INSIDE EDUCATION