By Akani Nkuna
In an effort to promote digitalisation, combat unemployment and develop rural communities, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has launched the Phuthaditjhaba Smart Skills Centre in the Free State in a joint venture with the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA).
“The Smart Skills Centre is not a charity; it is an investment to our collective future. It is proof that when the PSET (Post-School Education and Training) system is aligned, SETAs are stabilised and when communities are brought to the fold we can deliver not just hope but concrete opportunities,” Manamela said on Thursday.
Speaking to community members during the launch, Manamela highlighted that the centre aimed to bridge the digital gap by providing township and rural communities with free access to high-speed internet, cutting-edge digital resources and future oriented training facilities for both the old and the young.
He said the centre would offer a range of digital programmes including augmented reality, virtual reality, coding, robotics and entrepreneurship to enable people from the community to be assets and positively contribute towards the economy of the country.
“This is not only about digital skills with its accreditation as a trade test centre… this centre will also help us rebuild the status of artisanship, provide clear routes into employment and strengthen the backbone of our economy,” he added.
Manamela further encouraged the youth of Phuthaditjhaba to make great use of the facility to improve their digital skills while repositioning themselves with adequate skills to participate in the digital economy.
“To our youth, we want you to use this centre boldly. Learn, experiment and turn your skills into enterprise. We should see this place as a place to reskill and to claim your share in the digital economy,” said Manamela.
The minister challenged department’s partners, CHIETA, to intensify skills development efforts to accommodate the growing demand within the technological sector.
He contended that the more upskilling there was, the more jobs would be created.
The minister said that he hoped industry players would flock the centre to provide the necessary expertise to the students, while also ensuring that the training was aligned with the designated standards which the industry demanded.
“CHIETA and SETA are a vital part of this vision, they sit at the intersection of education, training and industry, making sure that skills supply match economic demand. SETAs must not only collect levies and accredit programmes, but they must serve as drivers of innovation of jobs creation and also of industry partnerships,” Manamela said.
He also reaffirmed the department’s commitment to good governance between its subsectors and partners to enable the delivery of great services to young people and avoid misuse of funds.
“Stabilising the governance of SETAs is one of our priorities. We cannot afford wastage as management or duplication where millions of young people are desperate for opportunities. We must restore public confidence in SETAs so that their resources are invested where they matter most,” he added.
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