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Against the backdrop of a widening skills shortage and the need to broaden the economic participation of the majority of the disadvantaged population in South Africa, the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (Asgi-SA) and the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) have introduced both short- and long-term interventions aimed at lifting out of poverty those living in the second economy. Critical to both these goals is addressing the skills shortages in priority sectors within the economy, where demand for skilled employable citizens is high.
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| 2. |
The Human Capital Development Strategy (HCDS) of the Western Cape responds to Asgi- SA and JIPSA by identifying key programmes and interventions that will fast-track the quest to skill the nation.
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| 3. |
The attached report on the state of current skills development programmes and initiatives within the WCED has been written and reflects learner enrolment and performance as at 30 June 2007. The report details how the WCED is responding to the skills shortage in South Africa through the various programmes offered across the full range of educational institutions.
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| 4. |
The report focuses on how the WCED responds to 6 key priority skills sets as identified by the JIPSA, viz. engineering, artisans, town and regional planning, business process outsourcing, tourism, and information communication and technology. Two further sectors were identified by the Asgi-SA, i.e. biofuels (agriculture), and planning and management.
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| 5. |
This report can be used by schools as a career guidance resource, in conjunction with the information in MEDS and PERO (refer to Education Planning Minute 0007/2007 issued on 24 April 2007) to assist in identifying areas where skills are needed most in the province. Schools can then start encouraging learners to study towards those areas as the prospects of obtaining employment will be high and the province will be addressing the shortage of skills.
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| 6. |
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the HCDS project team: Fiona Lewis (tel. 021 467 9346, e-mail: filewis@pgwc.gov.za), Vumile Nyalashe (tel. 021 467 9350, e-mail: vnyalash@pgwc.gov.za) or Zaahida Hartley (tel. 021 467 9354, e-mail ).
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SIGNED: S. NAICKER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2007:11:22
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