By Levy Masiteng
The National School of Government (NSG) and Microsoft South Africa have joined forces to revolutionise the public sector’s digital landscape.
During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, they said the collaboration aimed to empower 100,000 government employees with cutting-edge skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital literacy.
“Through this partnership, the NSG is aligning perfectly with priority number three of government, building a capable, ethical and developmental state,” said Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi.
“This partnership in not an investment on technology alone, but on the people on South Africa.”
He said the partnership was a significant step towards realising President Cyril Ramaphosa’s vision of a digitally transformed South Africa, as outlined in an address at Microsoft last month.
“For a country such as ours, with such a high youth unemployment rate, this comprehensive training will not only prepare young people for jobs in high-tech industries, it will also facilitate self-employment,” the minister said.
“It will contribute to a new generation of tech and software entrepreneurs that will bring innovation and high-tech solutions that support economic growth and enhance our country’s competitiveness”.
Department spokesperson Dikeledi Mokgokolo said in a statement that the MOU focused on providing comprehensive training programmes, workshops and resources to equip public sector employees with the skills needed to harness AI for societal impact.
It also included advanced training in AI and cybersecurity, leveraging the NSG’s Learner Management Platforms.
“We have forged partnerships locally and internationally to diversify our programmes and strived to be responsive to the public sector needs.
“Our collaboration with Microsoft provides us with the opportunity to empower our public sector employees to embrace digital transformation and drive positive change in governance and service delivery,” said NSG principal Busani Ngcaweni.
Microsoft Africa president Lillian Barnard said that through the AI Skilling Initiative the partnership with the NSG, the company was investing in the future of South Africa’s public sector”
“Providing government employees with advanced training in AI and cybersecurity is not only critical for safeguarding digital infrastructure, but also for fostering innovation and improving service delivery,” she said.
Mokgokolo said over 400 senior government officials have already received training in AI in leadership, AI fluency and cybersecurity, with more training sessions planned for the next two months.
“Our collaboration with Microsoft provides us with the opportunity to empower our public sector employees to embrace digital transformation,” Ngcaweni said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
