U. S. – South Africa Partnership For Workforce Skills Development
Launch, October 20, 2009
Waterberg Further Education
and Training College, Limpopo Province
Remarks by Cathy Moore, Deputy Director, USAID Southern Africa

Excellency, Dr. Blade Nzimande; Minister of Higher Education and Training;
MEC for Education Mr. Dickson Masemola;
Dr Modise Manota, Project Director for workforce Skills Development Project;
FET Chief Executive Officers; Excellencies; Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great honor for me and my USAID colleagues to join all of you here today with our partners - South Africa’s Ministry of Higher Education and Training and the American Council on Education - at the launch of the U.S.-South Africa Partnership for Workforce Skills Development.  

Education has been a central cornerstone of USAID’s program in South and Southern Africa. To date, USAID remains the largest bilateral international development partner to South Africa’s education sector, contributing $407 million in programs, of which $153 million represented a direct bilateral partnership with the Department of Education.

After South Africa’s world-famous 1994 elections heralded democracy into this country, USAID assisted the Department of Education in implementing various programs that the Department identified as the most urgent.  Those priorities included education policy; curriculum development; student learning standards, life skills policy and modules, teacher support units, and student assessment tools.

Today, skills development—especially for youth—represents a major opportunity - and need - for South Africa.  It is estimated that 1 million South African jobs remain unfilled due to lack of appropriate skills.  Youth are the mostly likely South Africans to be unemployed, and they have been hit hardest by the recession. 

In 2007, an assessment of the state of skills development in South Africa was conducted, in wide consultation with a variety of South African stakeholders. The Further Education and Training (FET) college sector emerged as the institutional setting where the most dramatic and far-reaching changes were taking place in the world of skills development.

The Partnership for Workforce Skills Development builds on past cooperative efforts to train and provide employment opportunities, this time with FET colleges having the key role.  The Partnership’s overarching goal is to enhance the existing work of the Ministry to assist FET colleges to put in place student support systems that help participants succeed and become productive members of South Africa’s economy.  

The Ministry of Higher Education and Training selected 12 FET colleges in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape Provinces to implement pilot programs under this Partnership.  Recently, I had the pleasure of recently meeting with representatives of some of these dynamic colleges and I congratulate each of you and wish you every success in this program.  Through the Workforce Skills Development Partnership, USAID supports your efforts to improve capacity to offer new skills-based programs, student support services, educational programs, and more effective outreach to business and industry in your communities. 

The Partnership will also focus on assisting youth to increase their knowledge and understanding of the opportunities afforded by FET colleges; build capacity in FET colleges to link with business, industry, and other advanced education and training programs; and help FET colleges to expand their ability to create and incubate small enterprises, thus creating jobs.
 
With funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief or “PEPFAR” program, the Partnership will encourage youth in FET colleges to become further engaged in the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS.  PEPFAR will also assist colleges to emphasize and expand current HIV and AIDS programs through student participation and counseling centers.

USAID recognizes the dedication of lecturers and other college staff throughout the country. They are needed on a daily basis to ensure that students receive a good education. The Partnership will provide staff development for FET lecturers and student support service officers, allowing them to link classroom experience with practical, employer-based learning.  Together, the lecturers’ ability to integrate theoretical knowledge and provide real-world experience can make a positive difference in the future of South Africa.

USAID welcomes this occasion to recognize the accomplishments of the Ministry of Higher Education and is a proud supporter of the Ministry’s efforts to make its programs even more relevant, with hopes of inspiring more young people to stay in school by providing an opportunity for students to learn relevant skills, fully develop themselves, and become prepared to enter the workforce in South Africa’s most important economic sectors.

USAID is very pleased to join in today’s official beginning of the U.S.-South Africa Partnership for Workforce Skills Development.  We view this partnership as a valuable new effort to promote change and innovation in education and, through pilot programs in 12 colleges, to highlight what can be done by all FET colleges.   

We at USAID look forward to a productive partnership in the years ahead.  Thank you.