Statement by Mr. Cameron Dugmore, Western Cape Education Minister

Northlink, one of the Western Cape’s new "mega" Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges, will hold its first awards ceremony tonight (14 May 2004).

Seven former technical colleges in Cape Town’s northern metropole region merged last year to form Northlink, which is now one of six similar "mega" colleges in the province. Northlink is the first FET College to hold an awards ceremony.

The Colleges play an important role in aligning what the education system delivers with what the economy requires.

The award ceremony of Nothlink College is indicative of the important role and success of the Colleges in delivering technical and vocational training to the people of the Western Cape, and thereby in dealing with the challenges of unemployment and poverty.

The WCED completed the process of merging 13 technical colleges in the Western Cape into six "mega" FET institutions last year. The department in September 2003 also announced the names of the Chief Executive Officers who now leads our Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges in the province.

The colleges form part of a new educational structure in the country, basically consisting of General Education and Training (GET), for those in Grades 1 to 9, and Further Education and Training (FET), for those in Grades 10 to 12 in high schools, and equivalent levels in FET colleges.

Northlink and its sister colleges have submitted about 60 business plans to the WCED for funding to develop more courses that are specifically designed to meet the needs of the Western Cape economy. The new courses will take affect in earnest in 2005.

The new courses form part of a package of initiatives designed to support FET and career guidance in the coming months and years.

The other initiatives include:

• The PACE career guidance programme for Grades 9 and 12 in schools. The WCED is training 800 Life Orientation teachers to drive this programme.
• We are extending a loan scheme to enable learners from poor backgrounds to attend FET colleges, and
• A Grade 8 survey to test the maths and reading skills of learners that will guide FET study choices in both schools and colleges, and to inform career guidance.

Taken together, these initiatives will contribute significantly to building the human resources we need to "grow the Cape", in line with our iKapa Elihlumayo strategy.

We also have to grow the Cape to ensure that the Western Cape is a "home for all", by providing the best possible educational opportunities.

We have started a new journey to a new future, to free the potential of each person and to enable everyone to participate fully in the life of the nation.

I want to congratulate all the awardees and I wish that all students will follow their example, just as much as the other FET-Colleges will follow the example set by Northlink College tonight.

Inquiries:  Rudi Buys  082 57 6551