Category: Educationn

Career exhibition evokes passion for agriculture amongst school learners

The Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSETA) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a one-day career exhibition for agricultural secondary schools in North West at the Taung Agricultural College. AgriSETA is an organisation required to develop skills within the agricultural sector so that learners are able to benefit from its activities. The purpose of the event was to encourage young people to consider agriculture as a career, share opportunities in the sector and teach them on ways they can take to make a living within the industry.

AgriSETA Head of Marketing Mandy Rutgers said in her address to the estimated 400 learners that, the Skills Development Plan that emanates from the National Development Plan is being prioritised by all SETAs by means of sharing bursaries, skills development and knowledge of careers in agriculture among the youth as they have the potential of taking the sector to new heights.

The Noord-Wes Koporasie, MICTSETA, EW SETA, Citrus Academy, National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development were amongst the exhibitors that were displaying and partaking in the information sharing sessions to which Tumiso Sempe (18) from a participant from Marubising Secondary School in Cokonyane acknowledged the importance of.

“The exhibition was an eye-opening experience that afforded me the opportunity of learning about different careers in the agricultural sector. I am interested in pursuing studies in Animal Production or Land Surveying at the University of Cape Town upon my matric completion. These are careers I did not know about prior to the exhibition and I am now aware of the immense contribution each of them have in the industry. My studies will also enable me to impart knowledge on our communities about a lot of things in regards to agriculture,” said Tumiso.

Tselaathuto Secondary School from Lower Majakgoro in Itireleng was one of the several well represented schools at the Taung Agricultural College. The learner from this school energised Itumeleng Seeqela (19) expressed gratitude at the efforts made by the exhibitors to answer in detail questions learners had about various careers.

He stated that he learned so much from the event. “My interest in being a Veterinarian has been evoked as I have a great love for animals; especially Rhinos which we know are an endangered species due to poaching. I’ve also become conscious of the fact that there aren’t as many black Vets in the country thus I’d like to follow this career path to show young people from my village that it is possible to achieve anything we dream of as black people in South Africa” said the grade twelve (12) learner.

Northern Cape schools also saw prospect in having their learners present. Mr Samuel Ndluzela, a grade eleven (11) teacher from the Northern Cape Agricultural High School in Jan Kemp had his Agricultural Practices and Technology pupils at the event. “Learners received valuable information that we as teachers are not able to share as we may have limited information about some of these careers in agriculture and related industries. I am happy to see so any learners being inquisitive and visiting all the stalls even though the suggestion was to target what they are interested in. This is a beneficial experience for all and I hope that they will share with their peers about the different job opportunities they learned about today” said Mr Ndluzela.

Source: Government of South Africa

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has called on all employers to open their workplaces for the placement of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college students.

In the same vein, the Minister urged employers to give workplace exposure to TVET college lecturers, so that they can train students in what is currently needed by industry.

“The primary aim of these placements is to assist the transition of our young people from learning to working,” Nzimande said on Friday at a briefing on learning and training opportunities provided through Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensure that the skills development system offers about 100 000 opportunities, including learnerships, apprenticeships and internships.

The briefing follows a two-day engagement held earlier this week by the department and SETAs on their role in fighting unemployment, inequality and poverty through skills development.

During a meeting with all 21 SETAs, Nzimande urged them to give priority to the work placement of TVET college graduates, who require workplace exposure, in order to complete their training, and to facilitate the transition from learning to working.

“Government has already spent vast amounts of money to support our youth through the TVET system, and therefore, it is important that we assist them to transition to the workplace through appropriate placement,” Nzimande said.

The parties looked at how SETAs have performed in the past five years (2016/17 to 2020/21), and collectively agreed on skills development interventions planned for the 2022/23 financial year, especially those aimed at supporting the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).

The Minister said there is widespread agreement and commitment by the SETAs regarding a need to expand the participation of young people in skills development programmes, as well as workplace-based learning opportunities.

He said this has given practical effect in their 2022/23 annual performance plans.

“Our skills training interventions will also seek to support and strengthen the District Development Model, which aims to improve provision of services and socio-economic development in each of our 44 districts and 8 metros.”

107 000 workplace-based learning opportunities targeted

In response to the high numbers of unemployed young South Africans, Nzimande announced that the department has increased its target for workplace-based learning for the financial year, commencing on 1 April 2022, with annual target above 100 000 (107 000).

“In addition to the 107 000 workplace-based learning opportunities, we are also targeting 20 500 opportunities for apprentices, 22 500 for artisanal trades; 31 300 for those completing learnerships and 148 000 for learners entering into various skills development programmes, such as digital skills, crop production and plant production,” Nzimande said.

Additional funds will be re-allocated from the National Skills Fund (NSF), with immediate focus on work placement of graduates in TVET N6 Hospitality and Catering Services, N6 Tourism and NCV L4: Tourism learners.

The Bank SETA has also set aside R54 million for 2022/23 to reskill and upskill workers in the sector.

Nzimande announced that SETAs will support the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in the development of critical high-end skills in selected technology areas, including the bio economy, space science, technology energy, intellectual property management, among others.

“Support will also be directed towards technical development and the artisan skills that would contribute to the commercial exploitation and social beneficiation of newly developed innovations,” Nzimande said.

Over 44 000 unemployed youth placed in learnerships

Despite losing much revenue in 2020/21 due to the skills levy holiday and COVID-19 pandemic, Nzimande said SETAs registered some significant progress for the year ended 31 March 2021.

“The SETAs, combined, placed 44 619 unemployed [people] into learnerships. Over 34 710 of them were young people below the ages of 35 years old and over 25 550 were female, at a cost of about R1 billion.

“In the same period, we placed 9 901 interns. Of these, 9 096 were young people below the age of 35 and 6 455 were female. Our SETAs spent just over R883 million in this regard,” Nzimande said.

For TVET placement, he said, SETAs placed about 8 539 learners, with 5 656 females, at a cost of R393 million.

“For the university placement, SETAs placed 5 183 learners in workplaces, at a value of R300 million,” said the Minister.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has unveiled the first official Hydrogen Social Roadmap (HSRM) that will identify high-level outcomes for a South African hydrogen economy.

Launched on Thursday, the HSRM will serve as a national coordinating framework to facilitate the integration of hydrogen-related technologies in various sectors of the South African economy, and thereby stimulate economic recovery, in line with the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).

Speaking at the launch, Nzimande said government is determined to create an environment that encourages investment, creation of employment and skills needed for our economic growth and development.

Nzimande said the depth of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened government’s resolve to address massive socio-economic challenges.

He said at the centre of government’s ERRP is the creation of sustainable jobs and livelihoods.

“Our determination is to get our people back into the jobs they lost during the pandemic and create new ones. This means that we want to broaden the participation of all South Africans in an inclusive economy,” Nzimande said.

The Minister said he viewed the HSRM launch as amongst the critical and leading instruments towards country’s economic recovery and developing its economy.

The South African hydrogen economy journey started in 2007 when Cabinet approved the national Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research, Development and Innovation Strategy (HySA Strategy).

The HySA Strategy is currently being implemented by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), through the 15-year Hydrogen South Africa Programme.

Now in its 13th year of implementation, Nzimande said the HySA Programme has made significant contribution towards the creation of a hydrogen economy in South Africa.

“This has been achieved through the creation of knowledge, technological expertise and human resources development,” the Minister said.

During the 2019/20 financial year, the HySA Programme underwent its second five-year review, which recommended the development of an overarching HSRM.

In September 2020, the Department of Science and Innovation in collaboration with key relevant departments, as well as the private sector and civil society, initiated a process to develop the HSRM through a consultative process, which culminated in a stakeholder collaboration workshop on 14 July 2021.

This led to the Cabinet approval of the Hydrogen Society Roadmap on 14 September 2021.

Support inclusive growth

Nzimande said the implementation of the roadmap is expected to support inclusive growth and assist government to reduce unemployment, poverty and inequality.

“In South Africa, hydrogen is extensively used in the chemical and fuel-refining sectors, but it is currently produced mainly from non-renewable sources, such as coal and natural gas. What is concerning is that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies (HFCT) are currently used in very few industrial activities in our country.

“However, the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies is likely to expand significantly in future, driven by both mobile and stationary applications, as well as its use in industrial processes such as ammonia and steel production,” Nzimande said.

In addition to the renewable resources and available land to build the required renewable energy plants, Nzimande said South Africa has comparative advantage in that the country is home to 75% of the world reserves of the platinum group metals (PGMs).

“The PGMs such as platinum, ruthenium and iridium are key components in fuel cell catalysts and electrolysers for green hydrogen production. In addition, South Africa has a unique and patented Fischer-Tropsch process owned by Sasol, which gives South Africa a competitive edge in the production of liquid fuels based on the hydrogen production route.”

The Minister said South Africa has good trading relations with countries that are looking to import green hydrogen. These include the European Union broadly and Germany in particular, Japan, South Korea and China.

Platinum Valley Corridor

According to the recently launched South African Hydrogen Valley Feasibility Study Report, the average cost of green hydrogen will be around USD 4 (EUR 3.5) per kg by 2030 along the Platinum Valley Corridor, representing a green premium of USD2-2.5 per kg above grey hydrogen, produced from natural gas.

The Platinum Valley Corridor starts from Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena Mine in Limpopo, through Pretoria and Johannesburg down to Durban, passing through the N1 and N3.

Nzimande said it is expected that by implementing the catalytic projects identified in the South African Hydrogen Valley Feasibility Study Report, the green premium could be lowered to enable green hydrogen to be at parity with grey hydrogen.

Source: South African Government News Agency

FREE STATE – Three suspects; two adults and a learner were arrested yesterday evening on charges of Assault common and Malicious damage to property.

It is alleged that the child had some problems in the teacher’s class earlier in the day and the parents were called, the father of the child involved and another female arrived. It is said that the two parents and the learner confronted the teacher when he walked out of the class calling him a demon and even throwing death threats at him.

The three attacked the teacher and the school laptop fell down to the ground. A case of Assault common with an additional charge of Malicious damage to property was opened at Botshabelo Police Station.

Both adults, 42 years of age spent the night in police custody. The learner was released under the guardian’s supervision according to Child Justice Act 75 of 2008. The three suspects will appear in Botshabelo Magistrate Court later today.

Source: South African Police Service

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has advised all NSFAS eligible students with successful funding status to proceed with registration for the 2022 academic year at their respective institutions, where they have been admitted.

TNSFAS announced that the scheme funding list of its eligible students who intend furthering their studies in any of the 26 public universities and 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, has been released to higher education institutions, effective on Wednesday.

“The list contains names of students who qualify for the NSFAS funding, according to the NSFAS funding criteria,” said NSFAS spokesperson, Kagisho Mamabolo.

Mamabolo also confirmed that the registration fee for NSFAS students has been waived, in line with the subsidised higher education policy.

“This means that no NSFAS funded student whose name appears on the funded list should be asked to pay registration.”

For the 2022 applications cycle, NSFAS has received 906 429 applications.

To be eligible for NSFAS funding – an applicant must be a South African citizen, come from a family with a combined annual household income of not more than R350 000 per annum, [but] in the case of students with a disability, the combined annual household income may not exceed R600 000 per annum.

Mamabolo said that 30 % (276 748) of the applicants have received a real-time decision, when submitting an application via myNSFAS Portal.

Mamabolo added that NSFAS has put in a new process, that has been enhanced to manage the appeal process.

He said students who have not met academic eligibility criteria may lodge an appeal with NSFAS, but noted that the appeals should no longer be directed to the institution.

“Students/applicants can lodge appeals on myNSFAS Student Portal – www.nsfas.org.za. Appeals will open from 03 February 2022 [and] students wishing to appeal must upload all required supporting documentation to substantiate the reasons for appeal.

“Appeals should be submitted within 30 days of having been assessed as unsuccessful. Appeals that are supported by an affidavit will not be accepted,” Mamabolo explained.

Meanwhile, the NSFAS Board, has welcomed Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande’s commitment to fund all qualifying students on the Department of Higher Education and Training bursary scheme, who have been admitted for funded programmes at public TVET colleges and universities in 2022.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Higher Education and Training, has embarked on a process to review curricula of programmes offered in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, in order to ensure their relevance, currency and alignment to needs of industry and society.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande said 22 more subjects have been revised, with the N4 Business and Services Studies subjects being implemented in the first semester 2022 and the N5 in the second semester.

The Minister was briefing media on the state of readiness for the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector for the 2022 academic year on Tuesday.

“The N4 Engineering Studies revised subjects will be implemented in the first trimester of 2022 and N5 in the second trimester. TVET colleges are continuously updated on the revised subjects and how to access relevant curriculum documents through circulars,” he said.

Nzimande will elaborate further on the revised subjects during the department’s 2022 Budget Vote Statement.

The Minister also noted that the department’s planned 2022 headcount students enrolments into the ministerial approved programmes, stands at 508 000, which is lower than the 2022/21 headcount enrolments funded by the state and TVET colleges from students fees.

“It is also substantially lower than the envisaged enrolment growth expected by the National Development Plan. Therefore, the 2022 enrolment planning for the TVET colleges will only be funded by the State at R14.385 billion with a correlating budget deficit of R165 million or 1.15% funding deficit.

“When it relates to the enrolments themselves, we have implemented a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with seven sub-processes in all our 50 colleges. We continue to monitor this process through our regional and national office oversight teams.”

Nzimande has appealed to all prospective students who are still seeking spaces within TVET colleges for Entry Level Programmes (ELP) to contact their colleges of choice for available enrolment spaces for the 2022 academic year.

Projected enrolment

Nzimande said an overall total enrolment figure of 1 110 361 has been projected for the 2022 academic year within the public university sector.

He said that first time entering enrolments have been projected at 208 299 nationally with 69 069 of these first-time entering enrolments dedicated to scarce skills areas, and these include 17 085 in engineering; 17 584 in life and physical science; 985 in animal sciences; 209 veterinary sciences; 10 418 human health; and 22 788 in teacher education.

The Minister noted that a considerable portion of the spaces within scarce skills areas require a NSC Mathematics mark of at least 60%.

However, he raised a concern about the need for the improvement in the numbers of students acquiring minimum requirement, as “they are less than the required numbers.”

Central Applications Clearing House

Meanwhile, Nzimande has appealed to students who applied on time for a place at all public institutions but not offered a place to study, to contact the Central Application Clearing House (CACH) for help.

The Central Application Clearing House is a system meant to assist students to access university, college and skills development opportunities following unsuccessful applications before the publication of their Grade 12 results.

The CACH opened on 24 January 2022, following the release of 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, and will close on 30 March 2022.

CACH services are available from Mondays to Friday between 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 8am to 2pm.

Students can access CACH through:

• a WhatsApp “Hello” message to 078 776 8660

• online self-service at www.cach.ac.za

• USSD code *134*225#

Source: South African Government News Agency