Deputy President Paul Mashatile has stressed the importance of reigniting efforts to drive human resource development initiatives, so as to urgently tackle the three critical challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
The Deputy President was speaking as the Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), where he led the inaugural meeting of the newly appointed council on Tuesday.
The newly appointed HRDC members include representatives from government, organised labour, organised business, as well as civil society.
According to the Deputy President’s office, the council’s main strategic mandate is to advise government on initiatives to develop the necessary skills to meet labour market demands over the next five years, ending in 2029.
“We look forward to your invaluable contribution and are convinced that your unique talents, abilities, and experiences will further assist to re-energise efforts to realise the strategic goals of the HRDC,” Mashatile said.
The meeting received presentations on the reconceptualised HRD Strategy and the Master Skills Plan, which will anchor policy documents for all human resource development interventions in the country.
The plan outlines four strategic, outcome-oriented goals. These include enhancing early learning and educational outcomes, as well as increasing the employability of youth, who are not engaged in education, employment, or training (NEET).
The plan also highlights the need to enhance the responsiveness of the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) system to skill demands and improve governance, leadership and management within the public sector.
In addition, the meeting received updates on the establishment of the Just Energy Skills Forum, which is aimed at contributing to the transformation of the energy landscape in the country, in line with the dictates of climate change.
This follows the commitment made by government to launch the Just Energy Transition (JET) Investment Plan 2023-2027 in 2022, where President Cyril Ramaphosa mandated the Presidential Climate Commission to engage with various key stakeholders in developing common approaches for South Africa.
A key element for the implementation of the JET Skills Portfolio is the establishment of a National Skills Advisory Forum, which is planned to be launched at the 5th HRDC Summit scheduled to take place this month.
The 5th HRDC Summit will bring together civil society groups, government, labour and business to deliberate on critical skills challenges facing the country.
The summit’s theme will focus on developing the emotional, intellectual and technical capabilities needed to succeed. The gathering will also touch on the reconceptualised HRD Strategy and the Master Skills Plan, as well as the launch of the JET National Skills Advisory Forum.
The summit will also discuss building foundations for learning and skills for a transformed economy, as well as building a capable State.
The HRDC is a national, multi-stakeholder advisory body chaired by the Deputy President and managed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Training.
The HRDC was established in 2010 to facilitate conditions that promote the optimal participation of all stakeholders in the planning, stewardship, monitoring and evaluation of HRD activities in the country.
One of the council’s key responsibilities is to build the HRD base required to ensure a prosperous and inclusive South African society and economy, focusing on the development of strategy. – SAnews.gov.za
