Failure to deliver through the levy-grant system and a lack of attention to FET colleges are two errors that Minister Blade Nzimande is committed to rectifying as government continues its search to “identify weaknesses and failures as they arise and to tackle them”.

The current models for education and training in South Africa are closely linked to a "neoliberal macro-economic policy" according to the statement released by COSATU at the conclusion of their Education and Skills Conference.

The Business Acumen for Artists programme was originally set up to empower creative entrepreneurs and artists to better meet their new roles in South Africa’s ‘Golden Economy’ and this year is no different.

Dwindling job security and a rising cost of living is prompting more people to seriously consider the viability of starting their own business. But is a home-based business in fact a smart move? Greg Evans says evaluating your potential business needs is the first step to answering that question.

Unless the training of artisans is accelerated, the number of people in this profession will fall short of the demands of the industry and adversely affect both production and job creation.

With its mandate of protecting the health, safety and environmental interests of the public in relation to the activities of the engineering Profession the Engineering Council of South Africa is ready to step into its role now that a number of new appointments have been made.

Issues around jobs, the financial situation in South Africa, and even the lack of national unity are merely symptoms of a bigger problem and government needs to identify the root cause if the country is to experience real growth and progress, says Liza Van Wyk.

Approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy yet many employers know very little about this condition and how to manage employees who suffer from it. Dionne Kerr talks about the symptoms, treatment and affects of epilepsy.

Faculty Training Institute has introduced a bouquet of Agile courses that focus on the different roles in the Agile space. The Agile Series is not restricted to any particular methodology and the underlying Agile approach can be adapted to different methodologies and organisations.

Business operators have to sustain the highest levels of activity, with minimal impact on resources and this has helped to spur interest in virtualisation. Robert Sussman speak about this growing trend.

Teresa Amabile draws from her new book The Progress Principle to explain how companies can overcome the "crisis of disengagement" occurring in the workplace.

Recruitment is often performed as a reactive task. In most cases a position develops or becomes vacant prompting HR practitioners to scout for talent outside company walls. Succession planning when done correctly helps HR managers foresee critical gaps in the workplace and plan ahead.

Who is responsible for delivering high quality education in South Africa? According to Des Squire no single role-player in the education sector can take the blame or work alone to restore failing systems. Bringing quality education to SA requires a collaborative approach.

The issue of work-life balance has been around a long time. Is that not the issue? that it does not go away, especially amongst working women? HR specialist Lizanne de Jong believes balance is central to the effective functioning of women inside and outside the workplace.

Effective administration within FET colleges has been listed as a high priority item on the Higher Education and Training Department’s agenda however there remains some confusion over whether this refers to private or public FET colleges, says Gill Connellan.

Good practices around recognition and reward, culture management and talent management can make a big difference to the innovativeness of employees. There are many examples of how organisations fail to recognise and reward innovative employees.

If you’ve been struggling to come up with fresh ideas perhaps a new perspective is needed. A photography class is the perfect way to get your creative juices flowing again by helping you see things from a different angle. Photography is a great skill to have whether you use it in a personal or business capacity and it gives you the opportunity to discover and develop unknown talents.

Kindly be appraised that the Education Resolutions are still awaited on soft copy as per the conclusion of the ANC Policy Conference and obviously will become policy positions for the government of the day.

The Department of Labour has announced a wage increase for employees in the taxi and the hospitality industries with effect from July 1. An assistant director said increments will see employers with more than 10 employees hiking their wages to R2 495.80 per month.

Despite losing R60 billion in revenue during the recession South Africa was able to absorb the shock due to a fiscal surplus. Now government is vowing to maintain sustainable debt levels.

Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy visited the Randburg Testing Station to observe the inspection of scholar transport as the vehicles were being tested for roadworthiness.