By Edwin Naidu
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, is acutely aware of the pressing crisis facing the country’s skills sector. She takes swift and decisive steps to address the challenges, recognising the urgent need for action.
While in higher education circles, it was lamented how her predecessor, Prof. Blade Nzimande, filled up boards of training authorities under his watch with South African Communist Party acolytes or friends, whose disastrous impact has held the skills training back and made many wealthy through unscrupulous means without any of them paying the price.
Just look at the many shenanigans affecting skills bodies under Nzimande’s watch; many investigations have not even come to light. Under him, when the proverbial poo hit the fan, Nzimande changed executives and boards.
His musical chairs still hit the wrong notes at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme – a mess of Nzimande’s making, for which nobody held him accountable.
In the skills sector, there are rumours that Nzimande had asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to hand over the Sector Education Training Authorities to him. If true, gladly, they say, the president declined his request. If merit in this maddening request, this could be one of Ramaphosa’s most important decisions.
While those within the better-performing SETAs are breathing a sigh of relief, save for those shady CEOS who had Nzimande’s support, the bad news for them is that Nkabane has quietly been removing former board members and putting in people with track records.
Under Nzimande’s watch, half of the country’s 21 SETAS previously received adverse audits from the Auditor-General.
To her credit, Nkabane expects boards to be centres of excellence in skills training and governance, financial management and compliance. She has also pledged to conduct rigorous performance evaluations of SETA chief executive officers and board members, ensuring responsible management of public funds.
One cannot imagine Nzimande watching too comfortably, realising the House of Cards he served is collapsing.
Skills and South Africa first is the mantra from Nkabane. At the recent induction of the 6th Board of the National Skills Authority (NSA) in Midrand, Nkabane was clear on the board’s potential to drive transformation and how best to modernise the post-school education and training systems to meet the needs of the economy.
Unlike the previous administration, which faced a significant voter backlash, Nkabane is acutely aware of the growing impatience among citizens. She is committed to taking action now, ensuring that our decisions align with values of integrity and ethical leadership.
Nkabane has underscored the significance of the Skills Development Act, which forms the basis for SETAs and Quality Council for Trades and Occupations.
She highlighted the pressing issue of youth unemployment, with an estimated 3.5 million young South Africans aged 15-24 not in employment, education or training.
She said the SETAs must respond to the rapid pace of industry change by integrating digital skills such as e-commerce, cybersecurity, cloud computing and digital marketing into their training programs.
South Africa must support her in ensuring that the skills revolution is led by credible people and not cronies who have been allowed to dumb down skills for too long.
As she rightly points out, our youth need hope – and credible people driving skills who can give it to them without focusing on their pockets. South Africans deserve better.
Edwin Naidu is the Editor of Inside Education.
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