Address by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on the occasion of the launch of the Higher Health Civic Education and Health Skills Programme, 20 July 2023

Programme Director: Ms Sakina Kamwendo;

Deputy Director generals present;

Chairperson of the Tshwane North TVET College, Prof Thidziambi Phendla;

HIGHER HEALTH CEO, Prof Ramneek Ahluwalia;

CEO of Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, Mr Vijayen Naidoo;

CEO of Health and Welfare SETA, Ms Elaine Brass;

National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Chairperson, Ms Asanda Luwaca;

South African Union of Students (SAUS) President General, Mr Lubabalo Ndzoyiya;

SATVETSA President, Mr Genius Shabalala;

South Africa College Principals Organisation (SACPO) representative;

TVET Colleges Governors' Council Secretary General, Zondi

University South Africa (USAF) representatives;

TVET College Principals representatives;

Community Colleges Principals representatives;

Representatives of UNFPA, UNICEF and UNESCO

Government Departments, particularly the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities;

Student Beneficiary, Mr M Nekhwevha;

Civil society organisations;

Private PSET institutions;

Peer educators and students;

Distinguished guests;

Members of the media;

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning

Introduction

I am so pleased today to be officially launching the Department of Higher Education and Training Civic Education and Health Skills programme. This launch is taking place just two day after we celebrated the 105th birthday of our former President Nelson Mandela on the 18 July.

What make so pleased is that Madiba today we have another opportunity to do what Madiba said we should do at the time when so much of the world is beset by hardship and strife. In Madiba’s words he said “It is in our hands to make a difference and to make the world a better place”.

This call by Madiba resonates well with us launching this co-curriculum today, which is a momentous day for the advancement of education, here in South Africa and across the entire African continent. It is indeed a momentous day for our democracy.

Today, the power of education to change the lives of our people and to contribute to building democratic values outshines our challenges.

Background of the Civil Education Co-curriculum

The launch of the National Civic Education and Health Skills Programme and the accreditation of this Programme at NQF Level 5 makes this a remarkable achievement for our Department, Higher Health and our government.

I am pleased to indicate that this is the first time that a civic education skills programme has attained a nationally recognised accreditation in South Africa and Africa in general.

For us to achieve this momentous milestone, HIGHER HEALTH worked collaboratively with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), and the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority which are all entities of the Department of Higher Education and Training. This collaborative effort let to this co-curriculum developed and accredited.

I must say that this is a shining example of what can be achieved when State agencies and entities work together for the good of the nation.

I want to indicate that the curriculum will be available for all our students and staff registered in all our Post School Education and Training sector and students do not need to be at NQF Level 4 for them to enrol for this course.

This means that the young people who take the National Higher Health Civic Education and Health Skills Programme will, for the first time have a recognised certificate that affirms their readiness to play a role in improving their communities and building the nation, in addition to their academic qualification which confirms their readiness to work and contribute to the economy.

This programme is one of its own kind in the world that considers the holistic development of PSET students.

This co-curriculum will offer the following modules:

The Module 1 Civic Education

Module 2 Gender-based violence, Gender Equality and Diversity, Transforming MENtalities

Module 3 Mental health

Module 4 Disability

Module 5 Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)

Module 6 Alcohol and Substance

Abuse and Building Resilience

This co-curriculum is different from any other because it is based on the interactive participatory pedagogy, centred on the approach of “EACH ONE! TEACH TEN!

The co-curriculum will be offered in all our twelve (12) Official languages which includes the sign language.

The co-curriculum will include top ten (10) soft skills required by employers, which include:

1. Active, empathic listening and counselling

2. Civic responsibility e.g. voting, volunteering, countering climate change

3. Conflict resolution

4. Creativity

5. Decision making

6. Digital literacy

7. Presentation skills

8. Public speaking

9. Teamwork, organisational & leadership skills

10. Time-management

It is this kind of innovation, and the social transformation that comes with it that will contribute to the overall process of building good citizenship in our country.

This unique co-curriculum will instil the values of respect and compassion for one another, community building, volunteerism and unshakeable commitment to advancing social causes.

Benefits of Civic Education and Co-curriculum

Ladies and gentlemen

One of the greatest benefits of this civic education co-curriculum is to contribute towards voter education amongst the youth.

We have observed a worrying trend in the recent national elections where the number of the youth participating in registering for elections and voting decreasing. This poses a serious challenge to the functioning of our democracy.

With South Africa’s youth accounting for more than 20.6 million (about 35%) of the population, increasing their civic involvement and political participation is crucial to building an inclusive society and strong democratic institutions.

For South Africa’s political system to be representative, all parts of society must be included. When young people are disenfranchised or disengaged from political processes, a significant portion of the population has little or no voice or influence in decisions that affect them.

This is amongst the reasons that this co-curriculum has been designed to tackle a wide range of health, mental and social challenges facing our youth today.

Another important element of this co-curriculum is to address issues of Gender Based Violence.

We all know that Gender-based violence is destroying the basic bonds within relationships, damaging families, weakening communities and undermining our nation.

I am therefore please that through this curriculum we will be able to address this scourge of gender based violence within the PSET sector.

Link to gender based violence is the issue of pregnancy which is amongst the major concerns that pose a serious threat to our education system. About one in three young women at PSET institutions become pregnant, and 75% of these pregnancies are unplanned. Our co-curriculum will also ensure that we deal directly with this challenge.

Our module that deals with issues around gender issues will also be aimed at transforming MENtalities by raising awareness about the role of men in changing their own attitudes and ending gender-based violence.

Our module on mental health is will be an appropriate response to the reality that one in five young South Africans in higher education suffer from moderate to severe mental health issues, according to the World Health Organisation.

Nearly half of all deaths in South Africa in the 15-24-year age group are due to interpersonal violence, suicides, and accidents.

A 2015 study by Stellenbosch University found that 12% of students had symptoms of moderate to severe depression, and 15% had symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety. Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death among our youth.

Research also indicates that about 60% of TVET college students and 58% of TVET college staff abuse alcohol on a regular basis. We had dedicated a module in the co-curriculum to address these issues.

Many students face a combination of academic stress, peer pressures, and financial hardships. Higher Health’s module on mental health is coupled with the services available to those in need.

It is estimated that about 7.7 % of our people in South Africa are living with some form of disability.

Issues related to students living with disability are also highlighted in the module that deals with disability. About one in 14 young people are living with disability today. They face potential violations of their human rights every day. We need to build a conducive environment that protects the rights of every student in a caring and inclusive manner.

It is absolutely necessary that we also build resilience to the devastating impact of drugs and alcohol abuse among our youth. Research tells us that about 65% of incidents of GBV are preceded by the abuse of drugs, alcohol or both.

In addition to these social challenges, it is worrying that Tuberculosis remains the top cause of death in the 15-24 age group, and HIV ranks second. Over 8 million people are living with HIV in South Africa.

Resilience to these circumstances is desperately needed. Resilience means survival, and it means that those who survive can help their peers to survive.

We need to build resilience among our youth to remove the net of challenges that keeps many young people trapped in their past. Resilience can free our youth from substance abuse and dependence. It can open the possibility of a new future, one that is very different from the past.

I must also indicate that soon, we will be including to our curriculum issues of climate change. This module will be included to address the dire need to counter the disastrous impact of climate change such as floods, fire and famine that devastate regions hit by unprecedented adverse weather patterns.

Climate change is real, and it will continue to accelerate towards the impending global catastrophe, unless we all get together and do something to counter its effects now.

These are the deeply relevant issues that the National Higher Health Civic Education and Health Skills Programme aim to address.

Conclusion

As I conclude, I want to indicate that Higher Health has now converted all the content of the co-curriculum onto an online platform using artificial intelligence and digital technology. This puts it firmly in the hands of anyone who has a smartphone.

Let me confirm this quickly: how many of you have a smartphone? Please raise your hands.

(pause)

Ok, so everybody here will have access to the entire Co-curriculum, every hour of very day, including Saturdays and Sundays.

Lastly, Higher Health’s holistic co-curriculum offers an unprecedented opportunity to make the vision of building a good citizenship a reality for all South Africans.

Therefore this launch of the National Higher Health Civic Education and Health Skills Programme means that every young South African student in the post-school education and training sector will be equipped to make a valuable contribution to building the economy of country and equally building their communities and strengthen the fabric that binds our society together.

I therefore call upon all our students and staff members in all our institutions to consider the value proposition that Higher Health’s co-curriculum is bringing to the development of our country and join us in this effort to make South Africa a better country for all.

Let us take a peek into the future and imagine what the future will look like after Higher Health’s co-curriculum has taken root.

Thank you

Source: Government of South Africa