DEPUTY MINISTER MANANA LAUNCHED APPLY NOW / KHETHA CAREER GUIDANCE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN CAPE
Kuruman, Northern Cape, 17 March 2017 – Today, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Mduduzi Manana, MP, launched the 2017 Apply Now/Khetha Career Guidance Campaign by addressing over three thousand learners at three secondary schools namely, Phakane Secondary School, Galaletsang Science High School and KP Toto Technical and Commercial Secondary School, located in the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality. Cllr NG Masegela, the Mayor of Ga-Segonyana applauded the Deputy Minister for having brought the initiative closer to the people.
The campaign will be rolled out nationally between March and September. The Apply Now/Khetha Career Guidance Campaign is two pronged. It is aimed at encouraging current matric learners to apply on time for admission to post-school institutions for the following year and thus avert possible stampedes and long queues that take place at the beginning of each academic year. The Career Guidance component of the campaign seeks to inform learners from grade 9-12 about career choices available within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.
The campaign was initiated by the Department of Higher Education and Training following the unfortunate incident of a mother who died in a stampede at the University of Johannesburg, while accompanying her child to submit a late application.
The Deputy Minister further promoted the “100 Occupations in High Demand” list that was released by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, in 2014. He said 'this will assist learners to make informed career choices to avoid a situation where they too join a cohort of unemployed and unemployable graduates'. The list of Occupations in High Demand was presented to the principals of the three schools as it will allow Life Orientation (LO) educators as well as learners direct access to it.
'Post-School Education and Training does not mean university education only. There are other opportunities like Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, Community Colleges and many other skills opportunities provided by the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) such learnership and apprenticeship programs' said Mr Manana.
Deputy Minister Manana said, 'our caring government is expanding access in the Post-School Education and Training sector. For the first time in the history of this country, the Northern Cape boasts a state of the art university. I have brought along officials from this newly built Sol Plaatje University (SPU) to share information on their programme offerings. However, there are other 25 public universities in the country and you are free to apply to any one of them. I am encouraging you to consider applying to more than one institution so that you improve your chances of securing a space.
I am leading a campaign called the 'Decade of the Artisan' advocacy program that has been running from 2014 and it ends in 2024. The importance and need to deliver about 30 000 artisans per annum by year 2030 finds a clearer expression in the National Development Plan (NDP). The skills needs of the country necessitate a massive production of artisans within the TVET college system. The government is repositioning the public TVET college system through investments in infrastructure development, lecturer development and quality curriculum that is on par with industry. As the slogan goes - it's cool to be a 21st century artisan. In February, Durban just hosted a National World Skills competitions to select young and aspiring artisans to represent the country in Abu Dhabi in October 2017.
The Deputy Minister informed learners that there are currently 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) which are responsible for learnerships and other skills programs especially intended for out of school youth and learners who cannot cope in mainstream education. The SETAs that exhibited were: Bank, Chemical Industries, Energy, Education and Training, Fibre Processing and Manufacturing, Health, Local Government, Mining, Media and IT, and Transport.
Deputy Minister Manana informed learners about the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) which is aimed at assisting poor yet academically deserving students to further their studies within the post-school system. NSFAS has to date assisted more than 1.5 million beneficiaries who have since joined the ranks of the black middle class.
All three Learner Representative Council Presidents thanked the Deputy Minister and all stakeholders who exhibited.
Career Development Services contact details:
SMS or “Please Call Me”: 072 204 5056
Telephone: 086 999 0123
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/careerhelp
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rsacareerhelp
Website: www.careerhelp.org.za
National Career Advice Portal: http://ncap.careerhelp.org.za
Walk-in Center: 123 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria
Ends
Issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Training.
For further information and to schedule interviews, please contact Busiswa Gqangeni, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , cell 079 547 5299