Statement by Adv André Gaum, Western Cape Education Minister

I am pleased to receive the report of the Task Team on Human Resource & Skills Development with the Minister of Economic Affairs in the Western Cape, Mr Ebrahim Rasool, today (11 November 2003).

Our partnership on this project is significant – we can only achieve economic growth and development, and meet the objectives of iKapa Elihlumayo, if we grow the human resources we need to ensure sustainable development.

Our education strategy is based on two fundamental principles:

• The first is that the first 10 years of education, from Grade R to 9, provide the bedrock for all human resource development in the province.

It is absolutely important that our learners acquire the foundation they need to further their studies, especially in literacy and numeracy skills. Grades R to 9 represent the General Education and Training band, or GET, in our new schooling system.

• The second fundamental principle is that we must ensure that Further Education and Training, or FET, provides opportunities through a variety of curricula and programmes, to develop the skills required for the province’s social and economic development.

FET is provides in Grades 10, 11 and 12 in high schools, and equivalent levels in FET colleges, which we used to call technical colleges.

If we achieve our objectives in GET and FET, we will go a long way towards ensuring that our population has the capacity for sustainable development. We must get this right to ensure future prosperity for all.