R21.9bn to build SA skills

In his State of the Nation speech, Mbeki said that the government had met the target set by the Growth and Development Summit to increase the number of skilled workers, having trained more than 80 000 workers.

However, it was clear that more work would have to be done to raise the skills levels of South Africans, which was why the new National Skills Development Strategy was necessary.

"R21.9bn over five years will be allocated to fund this strategy, which will include improved cooperation between the SETAs (Sectoral Education and Training Authorities) on one hand, and the Further Training and Education colleges and the institutions of higher education on the other," the President said.

At the same time, he noted that the government had begun to put its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) into operation.

To date, it had spent over R1.5bn, created over 76 000 job opportunities and begun to afford thousands of those enrolled with skills that would stand them in good stead as they left the programme.

As part of the EPWP, additional programmes would be introduced or further strengthened by April 2005, focussed on providing training, work experience and temporary income especially to women and youth, Mbeki added.

These were:

• The Early Childhood Development Programme, based on community participation - having ensured a common approach among all three spheres of government - the necessary additional funding will be provided;
• Increasing the numbers of community health workers, having harmonised training standards and increased resources allocated to the programme; and
• The more extensive use of labour intensive methods of construction targeting housing, schools, clinics, sports facilities, community centres and the services infrastructure.