16-MAY-13·	Getting the balance right
	Posted by | skills development
	There are critical changes taking place in the skills development space. Not all of them are popular but they are absolutely essential if we are to harmonise skills supply and the needs of a growing South African economy, argues Services SETA Administrator Dr Sihle Moon.

15-MAY-13·	Feel good in Khayelitsha
	Posted by | skills development
	The Foschini Group's 'Feel Good Project' creates further opportunity for employment by helping young people develop practical skills for TFG and other South African retailers.

14-MAY-13·	Innovative skills development model creates jobs
	Posted by | skills development
	A new initiative provides unemployed youth with guaranteed jobs by developing the skills needed to perform in the Business Process Outsourcing sector, and creating work ready graduates.

08-MAY-13·	Seta headquarters on the cards
	Posted by | skills development
	Will Sector Education and Training Authorities continue to function in their current capacity or will government centralise this skills development vehicle to ensure better financial controls and management practices?

22-APR-13·	Skills development starts with government
	Posted by | skills development
	Despite pockets of excellence, there is a continued overall reduction in skills and service levels in the South African public sector. Government has invested resources in learning and development projects to ensure optimum transfer of skill and better service delivery.

18-APR-13·	R10m skills project in memory of Anene Booysen
	Posted by | skills development
	The community of Bredasdorp in the Western Cape will become direct beneficiaries of a R10-million skills development and job-creation investment in construction-related programmes initiated by Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, in memory of Anene Booysen.

11-APR-13·	Catch 22: Exploring the link between investment and skills
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa has a low level of savings and relies on foreign capital to finance its investments but the country's unskilled workforce is driving investors away. Now South Africa has neither the skills nor the finances to better its position.

27-MAR-13·	Skills Development: The key to South Africa’s economic future
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills development not tertiary education is the answer to our economic woes states Gizelle McIntyre. She argues that a college degree does not indicate any particular level of expertise where as skills development indicates actual skill and therefore leads, more often than not, to employment.

25-MAR-13·	SA’s ICT sector has to intensify focus on skills availability
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa’s technology sector must renew efforts to address the need for sought- after ICT skill sets as there is still a substantial amount that has to be done to improve IT skills flow in the country.

20-MAR-13·	Skills key to developing local economies
	Posted by | skills development
	Economic development is built on the foundation of skilled workers. Government continues its drive to up skill South Africans, particularly young people, in order to improve local communities and the economy as a whole.

07-MAR-13·	InSeta learnership solves SMME woes
	Posted by | skills development
	The recent graduation of 102 new FAIS-compliant learners as part of the pilot InSeta SMME learnership demonstrates the effectiveness of learnerships to boost skills and create employment in the sector.

06-MAR-13·	Corporates step up to supplement basic education
	Posted by | skills development
	As the education crisis in South Africa deepens, corporates are stepping up in increasing numbers to fill the gap and ensure an adequate supply of talent for their companies.

01-MAR-13·	Where do SA’s best animators study?
	Posted by | skills development
	The art of animation has become increasingly more relevant in the film industry. It's influence can be seen over a wide spectre of film mediums. The following article discusses points on how interested students can navigate to firstly find the correct education and how to succeed in this exciting field.

15-FEB-13·	Dept defends new Seta grant regulations
	Posted by | skills development
	The Department of Higher Education and Training has noted the criticism of the amendments to the Seta grant regulations and has released a statement to demonstrate its full support of the latest changes.

14-FEB-13·	Learnerships have many benefits for all parties
	Posted by | skills development
	Learnerships have many positives and not just for the learner who will seek a job upon graduation. These opportunities create jobs amongst other things. The following article touches upon the benefits in granting learnerships and the relationships it creates.

29-JAN-13·	Scarce skills permits needed for renewable energy programme
	Posted by | skills development
	The prompt and efficient rollout of government’s renewable energy programme is possible only if we can import the skills necessary for the development of these new industries. This is the view of Sandra Burmeister, CEO of the Landelahni Recruitment Group.

14-JAN-13·	New Seta grant regulations cause for concern
	Posted by | skills development
	The new SETA Grant Regulations have unintended consequences to skills development. The changes focus on qualifications offered by public institutions and fail to recognise the individual training needs of a diverse national organisation.

11-DEC-12·	Ants vs. the celery root: top 5 skills to develop in 2013
	Posted by | skills development
	Do you find that despite your best efforts there are elements in the business that continue to eat away at productivity, success and profits? These are the “ants” that stop your organisation from growing. Learn to identify and counteract these enemies by developing the right skills.

05-DEC-12·	Scarce skills permits needed for renewable energy programme
	Posted by | skills development
	The demand for critical skills in the renewable energy sector will need to be met speedily if government hopes to deliver on its 20-year Integrated Resource Plan for renewable energy.

05-DEC-12·	New Seta regulations cuts mandatory grants in half
	Posted by | skills development
	Employers will need to realign their human resources strategies to the new Seta regulations which provide a guideline to administering skills development in the workplace. One of the principal changes is the reduction in mandatory grants.

05-DEC-12·	Minister calls on PSETA to make public sector training-friendly
	Posted by | skills development
	The public sector has been urged to create an environment that enables young people to learn and thrive. This is a key ingredient to uplifting communities and preparing youth for the workplace.

28-NOV-12·	Correctional services empowers unemployed youth
	Posted by | skills development
	Through the correctional services' learnership programme over 1000 unemployed youths have received skills development training in the field. This training has opened up employment opportunities in the department.

27-NOV-12·	Call for public sector to be training ground
	Posted by | skills development
	Work-integrated learning has been identified as a critical part of the skills development process and leaders in the public sector have been called on turn the work environment into training space for young graduates.

26-NOV-12·	Environmental sector commits to further investment in green skills
	Posted by | skills development
	The vision of a greener growth path for South Africa and its potential for job creation has spurred unprecedented national collaboration between the environmental sector and education institutions and agencies, towards the development of quality green skills.

23-NOV-12·	Opening the public service arena as a training space
	Posted by | skills development
	Stakeholders in the public service sector will converge to discuss how the sector can be professionalised and unlocked as a training space during sector's first colloquium, which will take place in November.

22-NOV-12·	Corporates need to unite to combat youth unemployment
	Posted by | skills development
	Youth today, are joining an unpredictable job market plagued by poor global economic conditions resulting in an escalating mass of unemployed professionals.We need a countrywide solution and this can be achieved by ensuring that business engage with government more effectively, says John Wentzel.

22-NOV-12·	Has SA reached its Tunisian moment?
	Posted by | skills development
	Has South Africa already experienced its “Tunisian moment”? Dr Mamphela Ramphele believes “ordinary citizens are waking up to their constitutional rights and entitlements”, and are insisting the ANC attends to “unfinished business in our transition from authoritarian government to democracy”. Jim Freeman reports.

22-NOV-12·	Connecting skills development to employee performance
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills development is a hot topic right now with government and industry encouraging businesses to up-skill employees. But is workplace training resulting in improved employee performance? and if not, why?

21-NOV-12·	Bursaries to help 'professionalize' payroll industry
	Posted by | skills development
	A student in the human resources sector will receive a bursary to the value of a two-year NQF Level 5 Payroll Administration Diploma which is recognised as the highest level of qualification available in the payroll industry.

21-NOV-12·	Effective partnerships needed to create green jobs
	Posted by | skills development
	Job creation is reliant on economic growth and effective partnerships are needed to cultivate skills development and unlocking the future. These partnerships are needed for the fight against climate change and without economic growth the various challenges such as poverty and inequality will not be addressed.

20-NOV-12·	Skills development: less talk, more action
	Posted by | skills development
	Through collective participation South Africa can make skills development a tool to change people’s lives in a positive way but that requires more action, less talk and better results, especially in townships and rural areas.

14-NOV-12·	How to build a talent pool
	Posted by | skills development
	The importance of skills development in the workplace and its impact to the bottom line is receiving more attention from business leaders. Michelin South Africa creates a new pool of talent as it empowers learners with Progression.

06-NOV-12·	The future of rural development in SA
	Posted by | skills development
	Over 11 000 young people from across the country's rural areas have joined the Narysec two-year programme aimed at empowering youth from each of the 3 300 rural wards across the country.

02-NOV-12·	Positive report for skills sector
	Posted by | skills development
	With the help of the ETDP Seta, learners have been able to enrol in various skills development programmes including learnerships and internships. The ETDP Seta Annual Report reflects its positive contribution to skills development in the country.

01-NOV-12·	Accsys helps to keep women on top of business
	Posted by | skills development
	Accsys, a Johannesburg-based company which is a member of the Business Connexion Group has received an award for being one of The Top Gender Empowered Companies. Accsys is a national supplier of people management software and hardware solutions.

30-OCT-12·	Survival tactics of the fittest small businesses
	Posted by | skills development
	A major credit card swipe machine distributor has set up a campaign to educate small and medium businesses on how to survive after approximately half a million small businesses experienced foreclosures over the past five years.

26-OCT-12·	Employers urged to take advantage of UIF and Merseta project
	Posted by | skills development
	R160 million will be spent on training and assisting artisans with entry and re-entry to the job market over the next three years. The financial assistance will be provided by the Unemployment Insurance Fund in partnership with the Manufacturing, Engineering and related SETA.

23-OCT-12·	Workplace training tops skills symposium agenda
	Posted by | skills development
	A skills symposium will be held to obtain a commitment from stakeholders to improve workplace training. The event will also highlight the Services Seta’s role and contribution to the skills and training process.

22-OCT-12·	Novartis boosts skills of local healthcare research scientists
	Posted by | skills development
	Local scientists will receive a skills boost through the Clinical Science Workshop sponsored by pharmaceutical company Novartis. This initiative forms part of the investment into clinical and scientific development in South Africa.

22-OCT-12·	SA government extends lifeline to SA TDM sector
	Posted by | skills development
	To curb job losses and up-skill workers Government has committed funding worth R 5.7 billion to enterprises in the manufacturing industry as the economy had lost some 200 000 jobs during the 2008/2009 recession.

17-OCT-12·	INSETA prepares learners for extended regulatory exams
	Posted by | skills development
	Ranked first for securities market regulation South Africa's commitment and professionalism in regulatory processes is clearly evident. Now the Financial Services Board has extended the level 1 regulatory exam and is working with INSETA to ensure all learners pass.

17-OCT-12·	Literacy training to uplift unemployed
	Posted by | skills development
	Unemployed learners will receive literacy training to position them for further training and development opportunities in programmes, learnerships and employment. Adult Education and Training service supplier, Triple E Training has been contracted to recruit the 200 participants.

16-OCT-12·	Engineering giants join hands to boost graduates
	Posted by | skills development
	The demand for engineering professionals in the country has prompted key players in the industry to come together with the purpose of developing a national strategy to increase the number of engineering graduates.

16-OCT-12·	CETA launches skills development projects
	Posted by | skills development
	Developing the nation through quality skills provision is the primary objective of the skills development projects that have been initiated by the Construction Education and Training Authority. The projects will be funded by the R374 million skills development grant.

08-OCT-12·	Qualifying skills development facilitators for 2013
	Posted by | skills development
	The MICT Seta has decided that all Skills Development Facilitators must either have a degree or must have done an SDF training programme which will be compulsory for the 2013 submissions.

03-OCT-12·	Financial literacy competition promotes careers in insurance sector
	Posted by | skills development
	Grade 11 pupils from all over KwaZulu-Natal received the chance to develop financial management skills and win an educational bursary during a speech contest. The campaign is aimed at promoting insurance as a career of choice.

01-OCT-12·	No job for students without practical experience
	Posted by | skills development
	Access to on-the-job training is still the biggest stumbling block to students who are attempting to complete their qualification and find employment. Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mduduzi Comfort Mananan highlights a few more obstacles.

26-SEP-12·	Services SETA & UK’s Blackburn College enter skills transfer partnership
	Posted by | skills development
	To promote the improvement of delivery standards and the performance of FET Colleges and to transform similar elements in the services sector, a partnership between Services Seta and Blackburn College of UK was formed.

25-SEP-12·	Skills development to improve radically
	Posted by | skills development
	In recognition of education as a top priority and in response to the challenge of low skills base, government established the HRDC to drive a human resource development strategy for South Africa.

19-SEP-12·	Zuma welcomes EU support for SA
	Posted by | skills development
	The European Union pledged 30 million pounds to support innovation for poverty alleviation in South Africa. Innovation was identified by both the EU and South Africa as central to finding solutions to economic and social changes. The challenges would require such continued support from the EU.

17-SEP-12·	Assessment demystified and clarified
	Posted by | skills development
	Failure to comply with the detailed requirements of specific unit standards is becoming an almost accepted norm within the skills development and training sector. Des Squire discusses the issue of ethical practice.

17-SEP-12·	Gauteng in skills drive to boost infrastructure
	Posted by | skills development
	In an effort to deal with infrastructure backlogs in the Gauteng province local government has recruited over 200 engineers, technicians and artisans. Accessible and reliable infrastructure is critical if Gauteng wants to continue attracting investment both locally and internationally.

17-SEP-12·	Skills reloaded: it’s time to move on
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills development in South Africa has moved on since the first shots of the so-called “skills revolution” were fired by then-Labour Minister Tito Mboweni in 1997. Moved on … but is it ready to move up? Gill Connellan of the Association for Skills Development in South Africa tells Jim Freeman that it’s high time it does.

11-SEP-12·	Greed stunts growth in engineering sector
	Posted by | skills development
	Why do we hear conflicting reports of high unemployment rates in the engineering sector when there is also reportedly a high demand for engineering professionals? The role of business in developing young engineers, or rather their failure to assume this role, seems to be the key.

06-SEP-12·	New labour market system to streamline skills agenda
	Posted by | skills development
	Employment prospects for young South Africans are expected to improve now that the Labour Market Intelligence system has been launched. The project will help government accurately match skills development and training initiatives to real labour market needs.

05-SEP-12·	Developing skills to meet infrastructure demand
	Posted by | skills development
	The slow pace of economic growth along with government delays in awarding tenders continue to limit the recovery of the local infrastructure and construction sector according to the 2012 Infrastructure Sector Research Survey.

29-AUG-12·	Skills roadmap needed for SA’s big infrastructure investment
	Posted by | skills development
	The Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, which President Jacob Zuma chairs, has to develop a skills roadmap to accompany its 20-year infrastructure plan, says Landelahni CEO Sandra Burmeister.

23-AUG-12·	Government has the power to create a demand for enterprise development
	Posted by | skills development
	In South Africa 56% of our new businesses close their doors within the first 12 months despite the many incentives, support structures created by government to boost small business growth. Mannie Hirsch explains this anomaly.

22-AUG-12·	Business must help solve the skills crisis
	Posted by | skills development
	High unemployment is a national crisis, and yet the country is importing skills. Business has to step in and help fix this problem—and there’s a great business case for doing it too says Ziaan Hattingh.

20-AUG-12·	CPT wins achiever award
	Posted by | skills development
	The College of Production Technology (CPT) was nominated by DHL Supply chain for the Achiever Award: Best Training Programme by a Small Company – and won. The award recognizes the implementation of relevant training programmes.

15-AUG-12·	Practices that perpetuate poor leadership in South Africa
	Posted by | skills development
	What are the bad habits that are rendering potential leaders powerless and perpetuating the trend of poor leadership skills in South African businesses? And more importantly how do businesses put an end to these practices? Robashnee Naidoo explains.

15-AUG-12·	Outsourcing is good for business
	Posted by | skills development
	International outsourcing and its impact on the local job market has always been a contentious issue but Harish Lalaa argues that it helps to develop local skills in a way that is sustainable, benefits graduates and makes economic sense for business.

13-AUG-12·	APPETD raises concerns over qualifcations in nursing industry
	Posted by | skills development
	The continued uncertainty surrounding qualifications for the post school education of nurses is having a negative effect on delivery. The draft qualifications are not Unit Standard based allowing a range of different interpretations and limiting opportunities for consistent assessment.

08-AUG-12·	Developing artisans in the Western Cape
	Posted by | skills development
	Northlink College in collaboration with governmental departments aims to close the skills gap and empower people to become qualified artisans Through the DEDAT programme artisans will receive practical training designed to prepare them for the trade test.

08-AUG-12·	Gauteng shifts focus to small business, skills development
	Posted by | skills development
	The new MEC for Economic Development in Gauteng shared with the media some of the initiatives the department was embarking on with the aim of creating decent jobs and building a growing inclusive economy.

08-AUG-12·	Position your artisans for success
	Posted by | skills development
	How would you define the term maintenance? Is it a synonym for “quick-fix” or is it a strategic function? A good understanding of maintenance practices results in employee safety and the ability to set workers up for success. This is necessary for economic progress and business profitability.

03-AUG-12·	Decline in unemployment is encouraging
	Posted by | skills development
	Releasing the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Statistics South Africa said that the unemployment rate declined by 0.3% with the number of employed persons increasing by 25 000 people.

02-AUG-12·	Ability is nothing without opportunity
	Posted by | skills development
	There are thousands of talented young accounting graduates in South Africa with great ability, however it is only by empowering unemployed youth with work-readiness skills that doors and opportunities for employment will open.

26-JUL-12·	Western Cape ICT centre to transform teaching
	Posted by | skills development
	The new information and communications technology (ICT) resource centre launched in the Western Cape is expected to train about 1 400 teachers from 200 schools annually in the use of ICT to support teaching and learning.

24-JUL-12·	Do we have enough ICT skills for the future?
	Posted by | skills development
	The issue of skills shortages, particularly in the technology field, is an ongoing concern for business. Mario Matthee looks at the future of ICT and talks about how industry can equip South Africa to do business in an increasingly connected world.

23-JUL-12·	Job centre for unemployed youth launched
	Posted by | skills development
	Approximately 8000 young job seekers will receive training and job placements through the job centre initiative launched by government. The Lulaway Job Centre is the first of many facilities expected to address unemployment amongst youth.

22-JUL-12·	Employment rules and conditions should be updated as labour laws change
	Posted by | skills development
	Employers are generally busy running their business, not reading labour law. But if you have not made changes for more than 10 years, your company is probably no longer compliant - a major business risk factor. Ivan Israelstam explains.

20-JUL-12·	Developing artisans in 7 simple steps
	Posted by | skills development
	The proposed 7 step programme for artisans presented by Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize is set to become a fundamental part of the department’s strategy to further develop and assist artisans in the country.

16-JUL-12·	First set of ICT female graduates celebrate achievement
	Posted by | skills development
	Aimed at training young women in ICT in six Gauteng municipalities, the ICT training project was launched by the PWMSA in July 2011 at the Tshwane Academy for Leadership and Management.

12-JUL-12·	FBC engages with NGO’s
	Posted by | skills development
	With the aim of strengthening partnerships with surrounding NGO’s to meet the socio economic objectives of regionalised skills development programmes False Bay College hosted an NGO breakfast.

09-JUL-12·	Learners urged to close gap in critical skills
	Posted by | skills development
	Learners are being encouraged to pursue careers in Maths, Science and Technology with the purpose of creating solutions to the water scarcity problem in South Africa.

05-JUL-12·	Summit places spotlight on artisan development
	Posted by | skills development
	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.

04-JUL-12·	Growing number of artisans good news for SA
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa is witnessing an increase in new artisan learners, a trend that has been welcomed and encouraged by Minister Blade Nzimande who believes that skilled workers are crucial to the economic development and prosperity of the country.

04-JUL-12·	Government owns up to mistakes in education system
	Posted by | skills development
	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”.

03-JUL-12·	Mobility is driving infrastructure migration across ICT landscape
	Posted by | skills development
	The pace of innovation and impact of global technology trends, and mobility in particular, means that we operate in a vastly different space. Welcome to the world of mobile-driven, information-centric commerce.

02-JUL-12·	APPETD committees to address training provider needs
	Posted by | skills development
	With the clearly defined goal of being an effective instrument of change and to address the needs of the private providers the Association for Private Providers of Education, Training and Development (APPETD) established five new committees.

02-JUL-12·	Nedbank empowers KZN students to compete in job market
	Posted by | skills development
	The lives of 27 students from KwaZulu-Natal have changed for the better, after successfully graduating at the Inchanga Further Education and Training (FET) College through a Nedbank funded skills development programme.

28-JUN-12·	Skills transfer gives youngsters a leg up into ad industry
	Posted by | skills development
	Talented creatives are being fast-tracked into the advertising industry in a new on-the-job mentoring concept founded by three experienced old friends. The initiative provides grassroots development and skills transformation in the workplace.

27-JUN-12·	Transnet puts skills development at heart of strategy
	Posted by | skills development
	Transnet has identified skills development and job creation as key ingredients to business and economic growth and is investing R300 billion in its Market Demand Strategy, which is informed by the requirements of the market.

15-JUN-12·	Youth month brings FET colleges into focus
	Posted by | skills development
	Minister Blade Nzimande reflects on the current state of further education and training colleges and highlights the plight of the local youth as South Africa celebrates youth month in 2012. These institutions are government’s first line of defence against skills shortages and unemployment amongst young people.

11-JUN-12·	Labour Minister unveils initiative to alleviate unemployment
	Posted by | skills development
	The Jobs Fair is one of government’s unemployment interventions which seeks to create a platform for prospective employers and employees to interact. This is part of a 'multi-pronged strategy' to alleviate unemployment.

08-JUN-12·	Indaba wants 80% of Africans having broadband by 2020
	Posted by | skills development
	Clear resolutions were taken at the ICT indaba 2012 to steer the continent towards sustainable growth and prosperity, with a special focus on improving service delivery to the poor and small businesses.

06-JUN-12·	Higher education looks to ICT for transformation
	Posted by | skills development
	Increasing the effectiveness of the higher education system through ICT infrastructure was one of the recommendations made during a meeting attended by Ministers of Higher Education and Training from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

30-MAY-12·	Workplace Training: the greatest investment you will ever make
	Posted by | skills development
	A rapidly changing technological environment and increasing market competitiveness is demanding more equipped, skilled and knowledgeable staff. The question is no longer whether you can afford to implement workplace training; it’s whether you can afford not too?

29-MAY-12·	Credible industry representation is long overdue
	Posted by | skills development
	Assessors and moderators speak with one voice through industry body CIMAP to positively impact education, training, and development in South Africa and maintain standards of best practice.

28-MAY-12·	Failure to keep up with technology is destroying major companies
	Posted by | skills development
	A survey indicates that a large number of companies plan to train or retrain staff where skills are lacking, outsource work and hire new staff with the desired skills in order to adapt to technological changes. How are you preparing for the future?

23-MAY-12·	Understanding the “Organising Framework for Occupations” – OFO’s
	Posted by | skills development
	The Department of Labour, with the assistance of International organisations introduced an Organising Framework for Occupations in February 2005 to align all skills development activities in South Africa. Des Squires discusses the functions and operations of this framework.

17-MAY-12·	Working class must take responsibility for skills revolution - Nzimande
	Posted by | skills development
	During a recent UNESCO meeting the critical need for quality technical and vocational education was brought to light. Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande discusses the purpose of skills development in the broader economic context.

16-MAY-12·	New skills laws come into effect
	Posted by | skills development
	President Zuma has signed into law two amendment Bills that the Higher Education and Training Deparment hope will allow them to have more control over FET Colleges and Setas. The FET Colleges will now be controlled nationally and Seta staff will have to disclose any conflicts of interest they have with private providers.

16-APR-12·	Occupation-directed training: proposed changes in the DHET Green Paper
	Posted by | skills development
	There are many positive proposals in the DHET Green Paper, but will all the changes positively impact the skills development landscape? Suzanne Hattingh answers this question and many more concerning skills development and work-based training.

16-APR-12·	SQS boosts local software testing industry
	Posted by | skills development
	In an effort to address the lack of comprehensive training in South Africa for the IT discipline of software quality and testing, Software Quality Systems a specialist in software quality has invested in its Software Testing Boot Camp.

10-APR-12·	Fasset submits a new qualification for tax practitioners
	Posted by | skills development
	The new occupational qualification for tax practitioners submitted by Fasset, is set to regulate the finance industry after SARS revealed that 17000 tax advisors do not have a tax qualification.

02-APR-12·	President to meet with FET college heads
	Posted by | skills development
	President Jacob Zuma is expected to meet with the heads of Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges to address the level of skills development and discuss how the country can produce the scarce skills that are necessary to make the comprehensive national infrastructure development programme a success.

02-APR-12·	INSETA pledges to make training opportunities more accessible
	Posted by | skills development
	In a bid to overcome uncertainty facing small and micro brokers, the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) has pledged to partner with the sector to address the most critical skills needs

28-MAR-12·	Breyton community puts its sewing skills to use
	Posted by | skills development
	A group of 20 women from the small town of Breyton in Mpumalanga are fast making a name for themselves – and creating a sustainable business – by using their sewing skills to make a range of work clothing.

26-MAR-12·	Telecoms skills stagnate while demand soars
	Posted by | skills development
	Development in the Information and Communications Technology sector is needed to spur economic growth and national competitiveness. The shortage of technical skills is a huge constraint in South Africa and the Africa continent, says CEO Sandra Burmeister.

22-MAR-12·	Is NLP the revived buzzword for self-transformation?
	Posted by | skills development
	Neuro Linguistic Programming is about understanding and positively programming our frame of reference, and according to Grant Hamel it is the key to rapid, practical and sustainable transformation in individuals and business teams.

20-MAR-12·	Transform maritime sector, urges govt
	Posted by | skills development
	As part of its plan to transform the maritime business sector which holds potential for economic activity and job creation, government has called for atleast 25 percent ownership by black people and women.

20-MAR-12·	Ndebele seeks to unlock potential in maritime sector
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa could do much more to reap benefits from its maritime sector but this can only be achieved by making research, innovation and skills development a primary focus according to Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele.

06-MAR-12·	Learn how to choose the right workplace training
	Posted by | skills development
	Have you ever placed your hopes on a training intervention that did not deliver? This is a common occurrence amongst managers who fail to conduct a proper needs analysis before choosing a training programme. Now you can learn how to identify the right workplace training.

01-MAR-12·	Pioneering agreement signed by EWSETA
	Posted by | skills development
	The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the EWSeta and Sanaco is the first such MoU between Sanaco and any of the 21 Setas and therefore, of great significance to the development, support and promotion of co-operatives in the country.

22-FEB-12·	Partnership to upskill women in ICT
	Posted by | skills development
	The pledge to train 180 young women in ICT in six municipalities entered its first phase when 34 females in Ekurhuleni started their End User Computing learnership programme. This follows the signing of an MoU between PWMSA, Bytes People Solutions and the MICT Seta.

21-FEB-12·	INSETA helps small brokers provide learnerships
	Posted by | skills development
	More skilled professionals will enter the insurance sector when the new learnership programme endorsed by Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) comes into effect. The programme will use the SMME platform to train school-leavers in the trade.

21-FEB-12·	Is there a place for learnerships in South African businesses?
	Posted by | skills development
	Learnership programmes support the goals of all skills development legislation and are critical to transformation. HR consultant Tasniem Cassiem looks at the benefit of skills development to businesses and how companies can take advantage of government backed skills programmes.

15-FEB-12·	Address skills, labour reforms, corruption – says opposition
	Posted by | skills development
	Opposition members have welcomed the announcement that government would spend more on infrastructure development, but have urged the President to focus more on developing skills, implementing labour reforms and tackling corruption to ensure that the country overcomes unemployment and poverty.

14-FEB-12·	Virtual classrooms become reality
	Posted by | skills development
	Virtual classrooms are no longer a pipe dream or a farfetched theory but are fast becoming the most practical solution to the challenges that training providers face in delivering a variety of courses to different regions. Learners can now interact with trainers without incurring the costs of travelling.

09-FEB-12·	The seven survival skills of the 21st century
	Posted by | skills development
	What does every student or prospective job seeker living in the 21st century need to know? According to senior executives and work readiness programmes there are seven skills that will ensure that you achieve success in your career.

08-FEB-12·	VWSA-merSETA qualify disabled people
	Posted by | skills development
	Disabed people were given the opporutnity to complete certificates in Business Administration when Volkswagen South Africa and the merSETA united to provide learnerships in end-user computing for people with disabilities.

06-FEB-12·	Blazing trails along well-trodden paths
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africans have developed some unfortunate character traits that hamper efforts to compete on the world business stage. Unfortunately, writes Jim Freeman, those shortcomings are becoming glaring in the skills development arena.

03-FEB-12·	Workshops for SDF's a must
	Posted by | skills development
	MerSeta will run workshops dealing with the submission of mandatory and pivotal grants and the proposed changes within the regulations. Skills development faciliators have been urged to attend the workshops.

02-FEB-12·	Alternatives to university
	Posted by | skills development
	Matrics who don't have the opportunity to study further should thoughtfully review the many alternatives, when planning for the future. Anna Malczyk highlights four options available to schools leavers that could be the entryway to a prosperous career.

31-JAN-12·	Understanding and highlighting skills shortages and the role of FET colleges
	Posted by | skills development
	FET colleges are designed to provide learning programmes that develop the skills needed in the South African economy, and post-matric students are being encouraged to explore this avenue of higher education. Des Squire talks about the purpose of FET colleges in a country wracked by skills shortages.

30-JAN-12·	SA loses scarce skills to Africa
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa stands to lose scarce skilled resources to other African countries as massive foreign direct investment projects in energy, mining, transport, telecommunications and water supply get underway on the African continent.

30-JAN-12·	Fasset's project funding pot grows
	Posted by | skills development
	Fasset will continue to fund new and tested development projects through its funding pot which has received a significant increase and now stands at an estimated R409.4 million as a result of the increase in skills levies.

09-JAN-12·	PAs also need an MBA
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills development for personal assistants not only improves the chance for attaining professional success but has become almost mandatory for PA's in the 21st century. According to Liza Van Wyk continued personal growth is necessary to survive in the competitive labour market.

09-JAN-12·	Learnerships transform lives
	Posted by | skills development
	In an effort to boost employment government provides learnership programmes in various sectors. By offering support to Seta's through these initiatives government hopes to alleviate the high number of job seekers who are battling to secure employment.

25-OCT-11·	Minister outlines study options
	Posted by | skills development
	Matrics who remain focused and motivated during the examination period will have better access to a tertiary education through avenues such as learnerships, artisan training, internships, FET colleges and universites, advises Minister Blade Nzimande.

07-OCT-11·	Minister wants more people in college training
	Posted by | skills development
	The Minister of Higher Education and Training wants to see a better balance between young people entering university and college. Dr Blade Nzimande told the National Skills Conference that only 9 000 students could be accomdated at universities each year so FET Colleges must expand to be able to enrol more young learners.

23-SEP-11·	Growing population drains CT resources
	Posted by | skills development
	Public transport, skills development, housing and jobs are all coming under strain in the City of Cape Town as it struggles to strike a balance between a rapidly rising population and need for delivering benefits and services to all its citizens.

19-SEP-11·	Guidelines and strategies for the NQF
	Posted by | skills development
	Government guidelines for the NQF are aimed at “strengthening the nation’s education and human resource base” which will fulfil the overall objective of constructing a high quality responsive South African education training and skills development system.

14-SEP-11·	'Gwebs' to head up DHET
	Posted by | skills development
	The new Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Mr Gwebinkundla (Gwebs) Qonde received a warm welcome from Minister Blade Nzimande who praised his commitment to higher education and urged all stakeholders to offer him their unwavering support.

05-SEP-11·	Gauteng learners get down to business
	Posted by | skills development
	A group of Grade 11 and 12 male learners from Alexandra High School and Wendywood High recently attended a Bring a Boy Child to Work Day, an annual initiative established and hosted by Accsys as part of its contribution to skills development, training and education.

31-AUG-11·	Soft skills produce solid results
	Posted by | skills development
	For years business has overlooked the importance of soft skills in the workplace but Helen Hadfield talks about the benefits of implementing soft skills training, and how to ensure trainees effectively convert newly learned techniques to practical application once they exit the workshop.

30-AUG-11·	Qualify as an ODETD practioner by RPL assessment
	Posted by | skills development
	Would you like to qualify as an ODETD practitioner? Des Squire speaks about how to get around exorbitant training costs and obtain an NQF level 5 qualification by listing the RPL options available to interested HR and Skills development practitioners.

22-AUG-11·	Skills shortage grim in finance sector
	Posted by | skills development
	Accounting and financial skills shortages are currently estimated at around 22 000 and according to the new Head of ACCA SA Nadine Kater these statistics are likely to impact negatively on business in general as 'all projects need strong financial management skills.'

15-AUG-11·	Female leaders merit support
	Posted by | skills development
	South African businesses are urged to provide more support to women in top management and leadership roles after the latest batch of statistics reveal that only 4.4% of women currently hold chief executive or managing director positions, the result of inadequate coaching and leadership training for females.

04-AUG-11·	‘Every workplace a training space’ – Nzimande
	Posted by | skills development
	Minister Blade Nzimande was resolute in his message of promoting and institutionalising work integrated learning when he addressed major players in the higher education and training industry urging stakeholders to ‘ensure that every workplace becomes a training space with and for the workers and the youth of the country.’

28-JUL-11·	Metrobus and ACCA develop finance skills
	Posted by | skills development
	The National Treasury's requirement that people working in finance must possess certain minimal qualifications by the end of December 2012 spurred Metrobus into partnering with Certified Chartered Accountants SA (ACCA SA) to bridge the skills gap of its finance and accounting support staff.

26-JUL-11·	Rolling back the skills revolution
	Posted by | skills development
	Some people think higher education and training minister Blade Nzimande is in cloud-cuckooland when he gets up on his soapbox and berates the Setas for providing predominantly “short courses”. Jim Freeman believes he’s sort of telling the truth.

25-JUL-11·	The challenges are 'disheartening' - Nzimande
	Posted by | skills development
	Minister Blade Nzimande told Services Seta stakeholders that his department had learnt a number of lessons in the course of resolving the three-month dispute over changes to the way Setas are to be run. "Courts must never be the solution for skills development," he said, promising better communication in the future.

19-MAY-11·	Staff training declines as government priorities rise
	Posted by | skills development
	Suzanne Hattingh co-author of 'Staff development guide for employers' voices her concerns over the shifts in government towards using the skills development system to achieve government objectives and the negative impact on workplace training in the private sector.

10-MAY-11·	Seta forum lines up behind Nzimande
	Posted by | skills development
	The 21 Setas have nailed their flags firmly to Minister Blade Nzimande's mast in his battle to change the Seta landscape. In recent weeks two judges have declared the Minister's action to be unlawful in cases brought by the Services Seta. However the other Setas have committed to work with the Minister and have rejected any legal challenges.

10-MAY-11·	Safa plays name game
	Posted by | skills development
	'A new name will not change the performance of our team', says marketing professor Frikkie Herbst on the proposed changes to the Bafana Bafana name brand. He believes funds could be better spent on increasing the brand value through improved performance on the field.

04-MAY-11·	Nzimande will continue Seta battle
	Posted by | skills development
	The Higher Education and Training Ministry will appeal against the Labour Court ruling this week that declared their imposition of a new constitution and chairperson on the Services Setas to be unlawful. In a statement the Ministry declared that, "there is no going back on the path we have undertaken to transform and strengthen the Seta system".

04-MAY-11·	Skills Development in turmoil
	Posted by | skills development
	What lies ahead for the skills development industry? When 'channelling funds' has become a priority for leaders, who demand levies from businesses disillusioned by government’s ability to effect change, the outlook for skills development in the country remains bleak.

26-APR-11·	Skills development – days of our lives
	Posted by | skills development
	Who would have thought that the world of skills development, and in particular the Services Seta, could degenerate into such a soap opera in less than a month? But, unlike a series where you can skip a couple of episodes and pick up the plot, you can’t afford to even blink during this saga, writes Jim Freeman.

08-APR-11·	Services Seta protests 'unlawful' action
	Posted by | skills development
	The Services Seta has threatened to take legal action against the Higher Education and Training Minister, Blade Nzimande, because they have been advised that his recent actions are unlawful. The services sector training authority is refuses the sign the sample constitution supplied by the department: the fourth version that they have received from the department.

05-APR-11·	New independent Seta chairpersons announced
	Posted by | skills development
	Minister Blade Nzimande promised that it wouldn't be 'business as usual' at the Setas under his watch and he has kept his word. In a major shake-up of Seta governance the Minister of Higher Education and Training has announced the names of the independent chairpersons of the Seta boards. Other changes promised by the Minister include the involvement of his office, and the national Cabinet, in the appointment of Seta CEOs.

04-APR-11·	Developing a Sector Specific Qualifications Framework (SSQF)
	Posted by | skills development
	Learning at work involves many different processes and what is being overlooked is the need for greater emphasis on RPL as a means of awarding full qualifications to competent employees.

23-MAR-11·	National Skills Development Strategy - what has changed?
	Posted by | skills development
	The National Skills Development Strategy is the document that guides Setas in their work to promote skills development and training in the country. As the third version of the NSDS comes into force, Des Squire reviews these important documents and comments on their likely impact on the training sector over the next five years.

22-MAR-11·	500 rural youth graduate from skills empowerment programme
	Posted by | skills development
	500 young people from the country’s rural areas have graduated and received their certificates from Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti at De Brug Military Base in Bloemfontein. The young people received certificates for completing the first phase of their skills empowerment programme.

09-MAR-11·	City of Johannesburg creates more than 150,000 jobs
	Posted by | skills development
	Executive Director: Economic Development at the City of Joburg, Jason Ngobeni, says that Johannesburg has already been created more than 150,000 jobs, by making use of all the opportunities created by government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to grow employment through labour intensive projects. Unemployed matriculants, graduates, and ex-combatants are given a range of practical skills - and the city benefits.

27-FEB-11·	Budget 2011: Skills before jobs
	Posted by | skills development
	The emphasis on skills development, along with job creation, in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s 2011 budget reflects an understanding of the need to increase the productive economy in order to tackle government’s ambitious growth and employment plans.

23-FEB-11·	Govt woos retired engineers back to work
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa is bringing in the old troops to help boost its current practical skills base in the field of engineering, particularly the built environment. The drive to get retired professionals back into the public service has been prompted by the pressing need to provide practical skills and training to a growing number of trained but as yet unqualified engineers and artisans.

22-FEB-11·	New Transnet locomotives to assist in skills development
	Posted by | skills development
	Speaking at a ceremony where Transnet received the first two of a 100 locomotives it bought from General Electric South Africa Technologies (GESAT), Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba stated that the delivery of the first two locomotives is not only in line with Transnet’s capital investment programme but it will also assist in skills development.

21-FEB-11·	Skills Development Forum for Western Cape
	Posted by | skills development
	Premier Helen Zille has announced that a skills development forum is to be created in the Western Cape, to ensure that skills development programmes meet the requirements of a growing economy. During her State of the Province Address, the Premier stated that the foundation of any skills development programme must be the school system - providing the ability to read, write, and calculate.

16-FEB-11·	Skill strategy aims to create jobs
	Posted by | skills development
	The Department of Higher Education and Training is confident that the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS III) will help stave off unemployment and create jobs. The third NSDS was launched earlier this year and plans to improve the efficiency of the skills development system and the Seta training authorities.

10-FEB-11·	How to become BEE compliant
	Posted by | skills development
	More often than not, business owners want to become BEE compliant but don't know how or can’t afford to lose valuable time on frustrating administrative tasks. EconoBEE's Gavin Levenstein offers these guidelines on how to become BEE compliant using tried and tested techniques explained in practical business friendly terms.

04-FEB-11·	There’s a new CoP in the Cape Town ‘hood
	Posted by | skills development
	“It’s like we’re running on steroids” was how one committee member of the Cape Town Community of Practice described the body’s explosive growth to Skills Portal correspondent Jim Freeman. What is a community of practice (CoP) and how can YOU get involved in either the Mother City or Johannesburg?

02-FEB-11·	Dept invests millions in artisan development
	Posted by | skills development
	The Department of Public Works has invested R32 million in the development of essential skills for young people in the built environment sector. The Artisan Development Programme is one of Public Works' key projects aimed at responding positively to ensuring that government succeeds in its priorities of jobs creation and education through skills development.

24-JAN-11·	New NSDS shows skills community is “maturing”
	Posted by | skills development
	That great “whooooosssshhh” you heard over Gauteng 10 days ago was the sound of Seta chiefs exhaling in collective relief as higher education and training minister Blade Nzimande announced phase three of the National Skills Development Strategy. JIM FREEMAN phoned around for some reaction to this long-awaited policy document.

10-DEC-10·	I'm your Daddy - Blade tells Setas
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa’s sector education and training authorities (Setas) have been served unequivocal notice that their days of virtual autonomy are a thing of the past. In providing a critical assessment of the work done by the authorities over the past decade, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande questions “whether in their current form, Setas are up to the task of addressing the skills development challenges facing our country?” Jim Freeman reports.

08-DEC-10·	Drastic changes to Seta operations
	Posted by | skills development
	Higher Education and Training Minister has introduced “drastic changes” to the way that Setas operate. Blade Nzimande slammed some Setas for taking the government to court and insisted that the Setas will become partners of his department in implementing the will of government.

07-DEC-10·	Hurry up and wait for NSDS III
	Posted by | skills development
	The release of the third National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS III) was announced for the 7th of December but has now been delayed until early 2011. The strategy document sets the direction and targets for the work of Setas and others in skills development. But why the delay? Jim Freeman investigates.

10-NOV-10·	New Seta landscape
	Posted by | skills development
	The Minister of Higher Education and Training has announced the Seta landscape for the next five years.

09-NOV-10·	New Seta Landscape announced
	Posted by | skills development
	After more than six months of discussion and delay, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande this morning revealed the Seta landscape for phase three of the National Skills development Strategy. Jim Freeman reports on the Minister's announcement. View full statement here

18-OCT-10·	Skills facilitators concerned by Metcalfe departure
	Posted by | skills development
	There was praise for the outgoing Director General of Higher Education and Training from the skills development fraternity - and concern over the impact of her loss on the current skills initiatives. ASDFSA chairperson Gill Connellan described the news as, "a real, real blow for skills provision and education in this country".

07-OCT-10·	Football legend joins new approach to tackle critical skills shortage
	Posted by | skills development
	Bafana Bafana legend Andre Arendse has teamed up with Graham Emmett to promote Riski Diski, a unique concept to identify and address risks and hazards in the workplace with a case study on safety in the mining industry – certainly a very topical issue. Both men will be part of a new, innovative approach to South Africa's critical issues at the Skills Development Summit.

04-OCT-10·	You can’t build a Rolls-Royce in a day!
	Posted by | skills development
	The Setas have been the pivot around which the National Skills Development Strategy has revolved for the past ten years. In the second of our two-part interview with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Jim Freeman gets him to outline his thinking about the future of these authorities.

21-SEP-10·	'We’re driving our kids into a cul-de-sac' - Nzimande
	Posted by | skills development
	The past fortnight has seen almost unprecedented public activity on the skills development front with the FET College summit, followed by the long-awaited National Skills Summit. Jim Freeman secured a one-on-one interview with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to find out more about the Minister's plans for developing the skills of the workforce.

10-SEP-10·	Deputy President wants firm commitments from skills sector
	Posted by | skills development
	Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is looking forward to a firm committment from the key roleplayers in the skills development system to cooperate in developing a skilled and capable workforce. Motlanthe was addressing the National Skills Summit held near Pretoria.

09-SEP-10·	Government plans to open access to training
	Posted by | skills development
	Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande is focusing on a key agreement he has made with President Jacob Zuma to develop the workforce. 'A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path,' is the Minister's challenging mission.

03-SEP-10·	Summits plot future for FET Colleges and Setas
	Posted by | skills development
	"I’ve heard a lot of things that have, as they say in business-speak, 'resonated' with me in this past decade that I’ve been writing about skills development, writes Jim Freeman, "some for the right and others for the wrong reasons. Here’s one that got me twitchy recently".

23-AUG-10·	Nice day for a shotgun marriage
	Posted by | skills development
	One of the most contentious provisions of the third phase of the National Skills Development Strategy is that Setas forge far closer links with public further education and training (FET) institutions than was previously the case. Jim Freeman attended a summit where the two parties signed a collaboration agreement in the Western Cape.

22-AUG-10·	SDFs should gear themselves for a rude awakening
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills development practitioners, especially facilitators, face the most dramatic upheavals of their careers in the coming months. So says Gill Connellan of the Association for Skills Development Facilitation in SA ahead of the body’s upcoming annual conference.

19-JUL-10·	Seta landscape puzzle starts to fall into place
	Posted by | skills development
	Pieces of the NSDS3 and Seta landscape puzzle are beginning to fall into place and it seems, writes Jim Freeman, that the final picture might not be quite the same as the one on the box.

30-JUN-10·	Seta landscape: first cut might not be deep enough
	Posted by | skills development
	Ever since the ANC’s watershed Polokwane conference, Seta watchers have speculated on how many of the authorities would have their licences revoked for the third phase of the National Skills Development Strategy. Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has confounded all the pundits but, asks regular contributor Jim Freeman, has he missed a trick or two?

24-JUN-10·	Every silver lining has a dark cloud
	Posted by | skills development
	Government has proposed cutting the number of Setas from 23 to 21 for phase three of the National Skills Development Strategy, saying there have been no major structural changes to the economy to provoke a drastic reduction. With their fears allayed of having their numbers chopped to ten or even five, you think they’d be happy but that’s not entirely the case, writes Jim Freeman.

03-MAY-10·	Is this consultation process a sham?
	Posted by | skills development
	The Higher Education and Training Minister has announced a new set of Setas for next year, but requires the current Setas to draw up sector skills plans to shape the National Skills Development Strategy this year. What kind of inputs are you expecting to get in four months from people who don't know if they will have jobs next year? asks Jim Freeman.

28-FEB-10·	Entrepreneurial thinking in corporate training
	Posted by | skills development
	Does working for a company preclude an individual from being an entrepreneur? Most certainly not; indeed, some of the best innovations and developments are achieved by people who are working for large corporations. Anthony Farr, CEO of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation discusses the discipline of entrepreneurship.

24-FEB-10·	Young women to receive skills development
	Posted by | skills development
	Instead of relying on government grants, about 1 000 young women will receive training in various skills development programmes giving them the opportunity to earn a decent living. Gabi Khumalo reports.

18-FEB-10·	R32 billion for Higher Education and Training
	Posted by | skills development
	The first budget for the new department of Higher Education and Training will see nearly R20 billion going to university education and over R3 billion for FET Colleges. In addition Seta skills levy income will generate R6,7 billion for skills development and R1,6 billion for the National Skills Fund.

18-FEB-10·	Developing adult learning practitioners
	Posted by | skills development
	Whilst the educational learning pathways for teachers in the formal education sector have been clearly constructed, adult learning practitioners do not enjoy the same structured pathways. Mark Orpen, at the Institute of People Development presents a different approach.

08-FEB-10·	Fasset allocates R34m to Development Projects
	Posted by | skills development
	Fasset’s Exco recently approved R34m in funding for Development Projects, bringing the amount allocated to Development Projects to just over R290m. Fasset CEO, Cheryl James discusses the four approved projects.

08-FEB-10·	Learner success stories like winning the World Cup
	Posted by | skills development
	As the Soccer World Cup fever grows in South Africa and the world, Fasset CEO, Cheryl James explores the prerequisites for nurturing workplace talent through Fasset's skills development programmes. She shares a few learner's success stories, equating these to winning the World Cup for skills development.

19-JAN-10·	Setas and the Soccer World Cup have much in common
	Posted by | skills development
	While excitement is mounting daily in South Africa as the countdown begins for the Fifa World Cup, 2010 also promises to be a very exciting year for Fasset and for Setas generally,” says Fasset CEO, Cheryl James. Just like the soccer teams that will be playing in the tournament, Setas will be focused on meeting their delivery goals.

13-JAN-10·	Metcalfe, Bird begin to crack the skills development whip
	Posted by | skills development
	It’s anything but business as usual on the skills development front in the new year, writes Jim Freeman. For one thing, the Department of Higher Education and Training seems keen to provide the so-called skills revolution with the leadership it has been sadly lacking. Freeman spoke to Mary Metcalfe in an exclusive interview.

05-NOV-09·	Setas to work more closely with FET Colleges
	Posted by | skills development
	FET colleges will work more closely with the Setas to help put students on one-year workplace placement programmes, according to Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande. He added that the greatest weakness in the country’s skills system was the lack of alignment between FET colleges and Setas.

04-NOV-09·	Skills strategy - and Seta mandates - extended for one year
	Posted by | skills development
	Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, has announced that the mandate of all the 23 current Setas will be extended for one year until March 2011. The National Skills Development Strategy 3, that was to be implemented in April 2010 with the new Seta arrangements, will now only commence in April 2011.

07-OCT-09·	Do less training - but do it better!
	Posted by | skills development
	In the current tough economic times the money we spend on training must deliver the desired results. But too much training is still done badly. Suzanne Hattingh has a strategy to improve the return on investment from training delivery. Do less training, but do it well!

05-OCT-09·	Setas reject Cosatu criticism
	Posted by | skills development
	The Setas who took part in the first combined conference if the skills development bodies have rejected the attack on the event raised by Cosatu. The organising committee denied claims that unions were excluded from the event and that it was snubbed by government. For the first time the leadership of 21 Setas gathered to find ways to improve their performance and advance the agenda of skills development.

25-JUN-09·	Mdladlana happy to see skills and education combine
	Posted by | skills development
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has described the amalgamation of skills development and higher education as ‘the cherry on the top’ as it will remove tensions that have existed in the past. However he expects the move to take some time to complete and his department will continue to enforce the law during the transition.

12-MAY-09·	Nzimande sets high standards for his new role
	Posted by | skills development
	New Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, has declared that it is time to transform the higher education system to ensure that skills development programmes are open to all. He also committed himself to working effectively in his new position.

11-MAY-09·	High Impact Skills Development
	Posted by | skills development
	The 30 June deadline for submitting the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) is fast approaching. But there is still time to undertake a quality skills planning process which will result in high impact learning. Suzanne Hattingh has all the details.

20-MAR-09·	Education Seta reaches KZN communities
	Posted by | skills development
	Education Seta CEO, Nombulelo Nxesi, represented the Seta at the stakeholders roadshow in northern KZN. 3500 community members were on hand to hear about the opportunities the Seta providers for skills development, particularly amongst the youth.

09-MAR-09·	Merlyn Mehl: Give Labour Dept the credit it deserves
	Posted by | skills development
	According to Merlyn Mehl, we have toiled mightily over the past decade to counter the effects of our skills shortage, but we have generally disregarded its root causes and the problem has worsened. Jim Freeman was surprised to hear that salvation is at hand - from an unheralded source.

05-MAR-09·	merSeta creates R80m safety net for retrenchees
	Posted by | skills development
	Plummeting demand for goods and commodities, means significant job losses are on the cards in South Africa’s manufacturing sector. Jim Freeman spoke to merSeta CEO Dr Raymond Patel about what the authority could do to cushion the blow.

02-MAR-09·	It’s just a jump to the left
	Posted by | skills development
	The merSeta's first annual conference was held recently in Gauteng and National Skills Authority head Silumko Nondwangu gave the keynote address. The gathering of stakeholders, at which Skills Portal contributor Jim Freeman was present, took place in the context of the global financial meltdown.

12-FEB-09·	Co-Sponsored Academy Courses
	Posted by | skills development
	Are you an employer in the hospitality or clothing industry or a clothing retailer? The GHMA Entrust Management Academy is offering to co-sponsor the cost of Learners on certificate programmes in Hotel Management and Fashion Design.

14-JAN-09·	Would you like some money from your Seta?
	Posted by | skills development
	Credit crunch, economic downturn, financial meltdown – we all know times are tough. Companies traditionally focus on cost-cutting, but have you considered bringing in extra resources from your Seta? Here are some examples of the projects Setas are offering.

27-NOV-08·	Skills development falling behind
	Posted by | skills development
	Further Education and Training colleges fail to be efficient and meaningful skills training institutions despite the fact that by March 2008, some R595 million had been spent on improving them, according to the South African Institute of Race Relations. The SAIRR survey questions the role of FET Colleges in the development of skills is highly questionable.

05-NOV-08·	Yes, we can!
	Posted by | skills development
	Barack Obama believed that he could do it - and he did! Do our learners at school or in the workplace believe that they can succeed? Have we done everything we can to facilitate learning and growing? Barack Obama’s first speech as President Elect must have resonated with trainers, facilitators, ETD and skills development practitioners.

24-OCT-08·	The good the bad and the ugly
	Posted by | skills development
	The National Credit Act is all about people getting, or not getting credit. However Trevor Sithole points out that this Act has a number of implications in the workplace. They range from employees unable to move jobs because of poor credit ratings, to employers being challenged to employer people who have made mistakes in the past with their financial affairs.

15-OCT-08·	IBSA countries set trade target at $15biln
	Posted by | skills development
	India, Brazil and South Africa have agreed to increasing trade between the three countries, setting a trade target of about R142 billion by 2010. Speaking in New Delhi on Monday, India’s Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee said: “We have established a target of $15 billion [R142 billion] in trade between the three countries by 2010.”

08-OCT-08·	The State must play its part
	Posted by | skills development
	"The state has a duty and responsibility to make it possible for people to comply with the law," says Assessment College Executive Chair Mariétta van Rooyen. Looking at the education and training legislation making its way through parliament at the moment, van Rooyen believes that while some of the existing concerns are addressed some glaring problems are still present.

11-SEP-08·	Amendment Bill ushers in era of skills development providers
	Posted by | skills development
	The Skills Development Amendment Bill has been accepted by the National Assembly and will now be discussed by the Council of Provinces before becoming law. The Bill replaces the term 'training provider' with 'skills development provider'. The term is considered to be more in line with international practice and highlights the end goal of empowering learners with skills that are valuable in the economy.

27-AUG-08·	Programme to develop youth into 'agents of change'
	Posted by | skills development
	The Department of Social Development has begun the implementation phase of the Masupatsela Youth Pioneer Programme which aims to develop the youth into “agents of change”. Agents of change are people who actively try to improve their communities and the lives of the people around them.

20-AUG-08·	I don’t receive the same percentage of our levies back. Please explain.
	Posted by | skills development
	I am an SDF and my boss has asked me why I don’t receive the same percentage of our levies back as we used to. Can you please explain why this is?

20-AUG-08·	Can any company benefit from special projects & discretionary grants?
	Posted by | skills development
	Can any company benefit from special projects and discretionary grants? Setas do have targets in their Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to assist small, medium and micro enterprises.

20-AUG-08·	Discretionary grants and special projects.
	Posted by | skills development
	How does a Seta decide on what sort of activities to cover with discretionary grants and special projects? Each Seta has to sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Department of Labour. These are performance targets which are closely aligned to the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) targets.

20-AUG-08·	What are Mandatory Grants and Discretionary grants?
	Posted by | skills development
	What is the difference between Mandatory Grants & Discretionary grants?

20-AUG-08·	What happens to the skills levies if companies don’t participate?
	Posted by | skills development
	What happens to the skills levies if employers don’t register an SDF and submit their reports? There are always additional monies left over after the reclaim process. Employers who do participate benefit from their non-participating competitor's contributions.

20-AUG-08·	When will I receive the levy refund?
	Posted by | skills development
	If I have completed and submitted a Grant Claim Form,when will I receive the levy refund? Setas usually pay the levy refunds quarterly, a month or two in arrears.

20-AUG-08·	Will I automatically receive a percentage of my skills levies back?
	Posted by | skills development
	If I have registered an SDF and submitted a completed WSP and ATR on time, will I automatically receive a percentage of my skills levies back? There are two stages of the reclaim process:

20-AUG-08·	Can Setas set their own requirements in these reports?
	Posted by | skills development
	The basic information required is legislated by the Department of Labour. Each Seta may set additional quality requirements on the reports submitted. Examples of quality requirements set by different Setas are:

20-AUG-08·	What is the format of the reports to the Seta?
	Posted by | skills development
	There are a variety of formats, some Seta reports are in Word documents, some in Excel, and some have on-line submission. Most of the Setas have now developed a single form for both reports.

20-AUG-08·	When do I have to submit reports to the Seta?
	Posted by | skills development
	The two reports are the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and the Annual Training Report. (ATR)

20-AUG-08·	What do I need to do to qualify for a refund of my skills levies?
	Posted by | skills development
	The refund of the skills levies is called a Mandatory grant, that is: if you comply with the conditions, then you qualify to receive the levy refund.

20-AUG-08·	What happens to the skills levies that I pay monthly?
	Posted by | skills development
	Monthly, you pay 1% of your total payroll to the SARS. (They withhold a 2 ½% admin cost.) However, it’s usually put across to simplify it that 80% of the levies paid by employers registered in each sector are paid over to the Seta covering that sector and 20% to the National Skills Fund (NSF).

20-AUG-08·	Does every company have to pay skills levies?
	Posted by | skills development
	Every employer that pays remuneration of over R500 000.00 per year must pay skills development levies.

10-JUL-08·	To spend or not to spend? That is the question…
	Posted by | skills development
	Budgetary restraints, inflation, recession –concepts that are becoming all too familiar to a frustrated South African economy and workforce. But these are the realities of corporate operation and existence in the current economy.

02-JUL-08·	Traditional leaders to get skills development programme
	Posted by | skills development
	A comprehensive Skills Development Programme has been developed to train traditional leaders on Integrated Development Plans (IDP) and Community Development Workers (CDWs). Public Service and Administration Minister, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, said this was in accordance with the National Programme of Support for the institution of traditional leadership.

25-JUN-08·	IBM opens New Africa Innovation Centre
	Posted by | skills development
	An Africa Innovation Centre has been opened to drive information technology skills development and address business challenges in the economic growth of Sub-Saharan Africa. The first of its kind on the continent, the new centre is part of IBM $120 million, two-year investment through to 2009 that includes new market expansion initiatives and houses Africa's first cloud computing centre.

19-JUN-08·	Court ruling impacts on workplace skills plans
	Posted by | skills development
	Company Workplace Skills Plans, which are submitted to Setas each year, require staff profiles and training profiles broken down by race and gender. The decision of the High Court that Chinese South Africans should be included in the definition of black people also impacts on skills planning for employers. Our report looks into the matter.

19-JUN-08·	New CEO appointed at Mappp Seta
	Posted by | skills development
	The media and publishing Seta, Mappp, has emerged from its period of administration under auditors Price Wterhouse Coopers with a new Board and new CEO. Bheki Zulu will lead the Seta management team as they restructure and refocus the organisation.

27-MAY-08·	Skills development, transfer vital for SA defence strategy
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa's soldiers need to be equipped with skills that they can impart to the populace of countries where they perform peacekeeping operations, says Defence Minister Mosioua Lekota.

20-MAY-08·	2010 a springboard for AsgiSA targets
	Posted by | skills development
	The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is to use the 2010 FIFA World Cup to help it achieve the various targets of the Accelerated and Shard Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA).

08-MAY-08·	SDF Training courses
	Posted by | skills development
	SDF Training programmes are available for training Skills Development Facilitators.

04-MAY-08·	Gautrain skills training gives new hope to unemployed
	Posted by | skills development
	The lives of more than one thousand employed and unemployed people will be changed for the better thanks to a R23 million Gautrain skills training project. According to the Gautrain Rapid Round-Up the training initiative is over and above the training undertaken by the Bombela Consortium as part of their commitments under the Concession Agreement.

14-APR-08·	Companies still see training as a waste of time
	Posted by | skills development
	Sadly I must say that many companies in South Africa haven't adopted a training culture yet. They see training (skills development) only as a expense. I am working as a Skills Development Consultant since 2005, consulting companies to get involve in learnership programs, skills programs and sending their staff for courses and other training interventions etc.

10-APR-08·	Are Seta mandatory grants set for the scrapheap?
	Posted by | skills development
	In the second of his three-part analysis of the Nedlac Review into Seta Performance and Functioning and the changing skills development landscape, Jim Freeman highlights the role of Seta grants. Are those Mandatory Grants on the way out?

31-MAR-08·	Another extremely popular skills development simulation
	Posted by | skills development
	Do you find implementing Skills Development a challenge and are not seeing results, then this incredibly powerful one day simulation workshop is for you. You will analyse a real business scenario, work through the phases from auditing to analysing the cost/benefit on the organisation and then learn how to apply this to your organisation.

31-MAR-08·	Seta performance: strengthening the more rickety structures
	Posted by | skills development
	Three years into the second phase of the National Skills Development Strategy, Nedlac has identified a number of areas in which the Setas can improve their performance and functioning. In the first of a three-part series, regular Skills Portal contributor Jim Freeman looks at some of the issues raised in the Nedlac review and looming on the skills development horizon.

18-MAR-08·	Cisco launches Africa training programme
	Posted by | skills development
	Cisco South Africa has announced a new skills development programme which will develop local next-generation network consulting engineers. The Global Talent Acceleration Programme (GTAP) to be based in Johannesburg, will eventually act as a hub for emerging African talent.

12-MAR-08·	CDC secures funding for its skills programme
	Posted by | skills development
	The Coega Development Corporation has signed a cooperation agreement with the Food and Beverages SETA which will see the opening of 150 apprenticeships and learnerships in the electrical and mechanical engineering trades.

12-MAR-08·	Medscheme wage dispute moves to skills & equity concerns
	Posted by | skills development
	Nehawu is still negotiating with Medscheme on terms and conditions. While the union has reduced its wage increase demand from 15% to 9%, they still claim that the employer is refusing to comply with the Employment Equity Act and the Skills Development Act. Their demands include Saqa aligned training for staff and staff bursaries.

06-MAR-08·	Law to change skills development structures open for comment
	Posted by | skills development
	The Department of Labour has published the Skills Development Amendment Bill for public comment. The Bill includes details of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) which will take over many of the quality assurance work of the Seta ETQAs. The National Skills Fund is also set for changes to improve its governance.

05-MAR-08·	Use software to drive hard sales in business
	Posted by | skills development
	Technology’s role as a catalyst for change in business, and to improve levels of service and quality end product, is particularly evident within areas such as HR and payroll administration.

04-MAR-08·	SA must develop ICT skills – e-skills Council
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) needs have to be addressed in order to further development and service delivery, according to the e-Skills Council

04-MAR-08·	Cheese and Wine Evening a Big Success!
	Posted by | skills development
	CSTI hosted a complimentary Cheese and Wine evening at Labri Manor in Stellenbosch on the 13th of February 2008 which was an enormous success!.

03-MAR-08·	New CEO for the construction Seta
	Posted by | skills development
	The construction Seta, Ceta, has appointed Petrus Mawuku as the training authority's new CEO. Chairperson Narius Moloto praised Mawuku as, "one of the pioneers in the development of the Setas and the Construction Charter for transformation who has many years of experience on how the Setas operate".

28-FEB-08·	FET Colleges have raised their standards considerably
	Posted by | skills development
	Cathy Robinson fully supports the call for skills development funds to be directed to the public FET Colleges. "Many of the Colleges have raised their standards considerably with the help of the recapitalisation funding. The institutional landscape has altered unrecognisably and I am proud to be part of this growing, competent sector," Robinson tells us.

28-FEB-08·	Sarkozy’s visit to yield SA-France agreements
	Posted by | skills development
	South Africa is looking forward to signing a number of bilateral agreements with France during a state visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy this week.

20-FEB-08·	Skills levy income increases by 28%
	Posted by | skills development
	Despite companies with annual payrolls of less than R500 000 being exempt from paying Skills Developement Levy, the annual income from this source increased in the current financial year by 28% due to growth in employment and salaries. It is projected to grow at an annual average rate of 10% over the next three years.

20-FEB-08·	Gauteng ICT developments to be discussed
	Posted by | skills development
	A meeting between the public and private sector is to assess and contribute to the future of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Gauteng among others

13-FEB-08·	Seta CEO appears in court
	Posted by | skills development
	Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown made another brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, along with the suspended chief executive of the Transport Education Training Authority (Teta), Dr Piet Bothma.

07-FEB-08·	China's experts on experience-sharing visit to SA
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills experts from China could be heading for South Africa in the near future following a formal call by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on that country to lend a helping hand. The minister was speaking after a meeting with a Chinese delegation that is visiting South Africa.

24-JAN-08·	The role of trainers in skills development
	Posted by | skills development
	"It seems to me", writes Mariétta van Rooyen, "that the role of trainers in the development of skills in South Africa is grossly underestimated. When the NQF was set up the word 'Trainer' was somehow discredited and replaced by the rather ambiguous name of ETD Practitioner". So how can trainers raise their status?

23-JAN-08·	What is the role of the union rep in the skills development committee?
	Posted by | skills development
	One reader wants to know what the role of the union rep should be on the skills development committee. "I am asking that question because the union that I deal with is always objecting to everything". In our Asked and Answered feature we provide both the legal and the practical answer.

30-OCT-07·	Trevor Manuel eyes Seta cash
	Posted by | skills development
	Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has expressed concern about the funds held in reserve by Setas. Presenting his 'mini-budget' in parliament, Manuel highlighted the R3,7 billion cash reserves held by Setas and issued a veiled threat that the money could be used elsewhere.

10-OCT-07·	Re-skilling programmes will uplift youth
	Posted by | skills development
	Re-skilling and matching young people to appropriate training programmes will help alleviate the country’s youth unemployment situation, according to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

10-OCT-07·	Appropriate skills drive development key to North West province
	Posted by | skills development
	MEC for Economic Development and Tourism in the North West province, Darkey Africa, told delegates attending the Provincial Skills Development Conference in Rustenburg that it is imperative to interrogate whether the capacity of the province's skills base to respond to the challenges posed by economic development and therefore job creation.

10-OCT-07·	The fairer sex scoop top awards on the Thusanani Programme
	Posted by | skills development
	The second tranche of learners recently graduated from the 2007/8 Fasset-funded Thusanani Work Readiness Programme. “Over 600 learners have already graduated from the programme. I can confidently say this group is the best group of learners by far,” says Fasset CEO, Cheryl James.

24-SEP-07·	Scarce Skills: Defining 'scarce' and 'critical' skills
	Posted by | skills development
	Know the difference between Scarce and Critical skills? And the difference between Relative and Absolute scarcity? The Minister of Labour helps us to define these concepts and debunk some of the myths around skills shortages.

20-SEP-07·	Mdladlana has high hopes for new Quality Council for Occupations & Trades
	Posted by | skills development
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed confidence that the proposed Quality Council for Occupations and Trades will be effective in recognizing learning taking place in the work place. He has called on universities to work with the new council to ensure that the new system works more effectively than in the past.

17-SEP-07·	Why Setas make use of assessors and moderators for quality assurance
	Posted by | skills development
	Ivor Blumenthal sees the assessors and moderators operating within the services sector as, 'the true soldiers for skills development in this country". While some might argue that a good assessor can assess learners in any subject - the Services Seta CEO believes that a 'constituency' system brings greater accountability.

14-SEP-07·	R70m allocated to close skills gap for qualified engineering artisans
	Posted by | skills development
	Merseta has commenced an Accelerated Artisan Training Programme (AATP) with its key levy paying organisations to address the steady decline in artisan training from the heights of the 1980s. Phase 1 of the project carries a budget of R70 million.

10-SEP-07·	KZN’s drive to curb illiteracy pays off
	Posted by | skills development
	KwaZulu-Natal provincial government’s bid to eradicate illiteracy among its citizens is finally paying off as the first group of 8 000 learners will be graduating on Tuesday.

29-AUG-07·	Setas to train 20 000 artisans through new Trades Council
	Posted by | skills development
	Draft service level agreements are being submitted to the Setas proposing a total target of 20 000 priority scarce-skill-artisans to receive training next year. A draft Skills Development Amendment Bill has also been prepared to ensure the quality of skills development through the establishment of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

23-AUG-07·	The way unit standards are developed is a major problem
	Posted by | skills development
	Bruno Bruniquel identifies the way that unit standards are developed as a major flaw in our system. This stymies all efforts to improve quality standards. He has a radical proposal for drawing up unit standards which be believes will ensure they are produced quickly and professionally.

23-AUG-07·	Proposals on the table to improve efficiency of skills training
	Posted by | skills development
	Delegates to the Assessment Conference heard from Christoph Vorwerk about some of the proposals being discussed to improve the functioning of the training and assessment system.

10-AUG-07·	What is skills development?
	Posted by | skills development

10-AUG-07·	Introduction to Skills Development
	Posted by | skills development

01-AUG-07·	The Three Types of Learning
	Posted by | skills development
	Holistic Advancement look into the various stages of learning, and explain how their product will help to engage your workforce with their workplace in a new and more productive way.

27-JUL-07·	SA Contact Centre Industry Responding to Criticism through Skills Development
	Posted by | skills development
	At a ceremony held in Cape Town on 18 June, 195 individuals were conferred with National Qualification Framework Level 2 Contact Centre Support diplomas by the Quest Learning Institute, the skills development division of Quest Flexible Staffing Solutions, in association with SARS.

21-JUN-07·	SDFs are contributing to their own demise
	Posted by | skills development
	Has the role of the Skills Development Facilitator been "dumbed down"? Professor Merlyn Mehl believes that SDF training should take 45 to 50 days. He believes that training SDFs over three days is not sufficient to ensure that the individual can participate fully in the skills planning process as the legislation envisages.

23-MAY-07·	Disability is a thorn in the side of the skills development strategy
	Posted by | skills development
	"It is difficult to publicly admit," says Services Seta CEO Ivor Blumenthal, "but we are nevertheless failing people with disabilities terribly". "Yes we meet our targets annually but the question remains whether we have generally improved the plight of the disabled to find meaningful, productive gainful employment," asks Blumenthal.

22-MAY-07·	Aspirant carpenters get bursaries worth R10 000
	Posted by | skills development
	Ten aspiring carpenters have each received a R10 000 bursary to study carpentry and to learn how to set up their own businesses. The ten students, who are unemployed, will undergo six weeks of free training at the Furniture Technology Centre (Furntech) in White River, Mpumalanga.

16-MAY-07·	Minister says Artisan, Apprentice development central to Asgisa success
	Posted by | skills development
	Artisan development remains a vital cog if the government's skills revolution in the form of Asgisa was to be accomplished, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has said. His department was set to "turn the tide" in the delivery of artisans and other technical skills, and the organised labour and employers in both the private and public sectors were to join the government in this process.

15-MAY-07·	Minister wants ‘fewer but better’ Setas
	Posted by | skills development
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has committed to continuing the Seta system, in the face of criticism of the training bodies from opposition politicians, but he certainly hasn’t ruled out changes. Although no formal decisions have been taken, Mdladlana has said that he is generally in favour of a system with fewer Setas.

06-MAY-07·	Not enough skills in SA to run nine provinces
	Posted by | skills development
	Are there enough skilled South Africans to effectively run 9 provinces? Finance Minister Trevor Manuel thinks there aren't and he has called on the National Council of Provinces to undertake a formal review of the provincial system to see whether service delivery levels are acceptable.

06-MAY-07·	Skills to be highlighted at Tourism Indaba
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills development in the tourism sector is to take center stage at this year’s Tourism Indaba to be held at the Durban International Convention Centre. The four day indaba is an annual premier event on the tourism calendar, which provides an opportunity for tourism stakeholders to converge and showcase their products and services.

06-MAY-07·	Unions put skills development at the bottom of the agenda
	Posted by | skills development
	I have been to numerous meetings where Unions has requested meetings with Management. On most of the agenda’s the point “skills development” was there but 99.9% as one of the last items. And as we all know from experience the last points on the agenda which does not carry monetary value is discussed in a matter of seconds.

27-FEB-07·	Sahara supports ICT skills development and PC literacy
	Posted by | skills development
	The Information and Communication Technology sector is in need of more skills and the sooner South Africa’s learners experience tuition through technology, the better says Gary Naidoo, deputy MD at Sahara Computers. Sahara Computers, a Proudly South African supplier of ICT, in conjunction with Sahara Systems, continues to spearhead initiatives establish to address this industry-wide concern.

23-FEB-07·	Accelerated Skills Drive To Top Discussions With Algeria
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills empowerment and vocational training – the key components of the government’s job creation drive – will top discussions when Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, his Algerian counterpart Tayeb Louh and their respective delegations meet in Cape Town.

27-JAN-07·	Mbeki, Jintao to discuss wide range of issues
	Posted by | skills development
	President Thabo Mbeki will hold discussions next week with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao with a view to further strengthening the existing trade and political relations between their countries. The presidents will sign at least seven agreements to strengthen relations and promote exports.

23-JAN-07·	E-learning – the virtual route to skills development
	Posted by | skills development
	The virtual classroom environment is proving very popular both from an individual perspective as well as in terms of corporate investment in skills development. This is the viewpoint of Teryl Schroenn, MD at Accsys, a national provider of HR and payroll management software, a company that has largely spearheaded the establishment of e-learning within payroll administration.

23-JAN-07·	Mdladlana joins local chief to celebrate skills progamme successes
	Posted by | skills development
	The coming weekend will be a special one for the rural Mamone community of Limpopo as they will be celebrating the success of a skills empowerment drive that has seen 390 of them obtain valuable business and agriculture-related skills. Minister Membathisi Mdladlana will be the guest of the Mamone Tribal Authority at the celebration.

15-JAN-07·	Rate of payroll skills development impinges on the bottom line
	Posted by | skills development
	Any HR manager will tell you that a competent, qualified payroll administrator is a major asset to a company. Teryl Schroenn, MD of Accyss, explains that registered qualifications are now in place for payroll administration to make it easer to identify competent people. If your payroll administrator is only 70% competent is that really enough? Who would want to be treated by a 70% competent doctor?

29-NOV-06·	Don’t forget the purpose of skills development
	Posted by | skills development
	Sometimes we can get so engrossed in the details, paperwork and procedures that our minds wander from the original point of what we set out to achieve. Sarah Babb argues that if we put aside all the compliance issues for a moment we can focus on the original intention of skills development - making a difference in learners' lives and increasing the national skills competence of our nation.

20-NOV-06·	Very important for rural skills development to start
	Posted by | skills development
	I believe it is very important for rural skills development to start taking place. Our company has developed a number of youth forums in few rural areas and when you hear what they have to say about skills development I think anyone who hears will agree that funding is needed in those areas.

17-NOV-06·	Job opportunities are few in the rural areas
	Posted by | skills development
	Training in rural areas certainly has its challenges. In the first place, the unemployment levels are horrendous and there really are very few job opportunities, if any. The only training that is viable is that of New Venture Creation, which trains the learner to start and run his or her own business

17-NOV-06·	I have been working on rural development - with no government support
	Posted by | skills development
	I’ve been working on the design and implementation for rural development for almost a year in Campbell in the Northern Cape with no government support. I believe we have a lot of rural development but the flaw is that it is always in separate sectors. We should develop integrated sectors.

17-OCT-06·	Farmers’ skills development as crucial as restitution target
	Posted by | skills development
	Government is fast-tracking its land restitution programme to meet the 2008 deadline to settle outstanding restitution claims, but developing the agricultural skills of new owners is just as crucial, writes Oupa Segalwe.

27-SEP-06·	Conference to address development of black skills and capital
	Posted by | skills development
	The annual conference of the Black Management Forum (BMF) will see business leaders, top government officials and development experts address issues including African leadership, the growth of black capital, and South Africa as an investment destination. The conference will be held in Durban from 12 - 13 October 2006.

19-SEP-06·	EE model should emphasise skills development above ownership
	Posted by | skills development
	"The worst thing about the BBBEE model is that it gives more points for ownership than skills development. A skills strangled economy will simply increase poverty further."

01-SEP-06·	R200m to bolster women building contractors in Gauteng
	Posted by | skills development
	The Gauteng Department of Housing has allocated R200 million to increase women contractors’ participation in the male-dominated construction industry.

01-SEP-06·	Recruitment industry in perfect position to develop skills
	Posted by | skills development
	"The largest problem is still the lack of skills and experience amongst historically disadvantaged individuals, and companies are forced to lower their standards or requirements to fill these positions. Employ people as apprentices or on learnerships. That is how skills traditionally were developed," writes Riette Waite-Sage.

23-AUG-06·	Are you taking the HR high-road?
	Posted by | skills development
	How will your business expand globally if your current human resources are not even carrying the load of production or delivery? How will you transform into an high tech-high knowledge innovative business, when your current people are low skill- low tech? Skills Framework MD, Sarah Babb, explores the role that HR practitioners should play to add real value to their businesses.

23-AUG-06·	Skills development has suffered from poor implementation
	Posted by | skills development
	Skills development is entirely dependent on public funding, resulting in a less than perfect roll out. For example many companies who had not previously invested in training suddenly, often under the guidance of greedy providers, leapt into learnerships without thinking of strategic alignment, skills gap analysis, and long-term planning.

23-AUG-06·	Employment Equity 103 - Skills development crucial to EE
	Posted by | skills development
	In episode three of our series on Employment Equity we look at the link to skills development. Skills development is integral to the redress of past discrimination and the implementation of Workplace Skills Plans should be integrated with the employment equity activities.

04-MAR-05·	New regulations for Setas and SDFs
	Posted by | skills development
	A new skills strategy calls for a new set of regulations to govern the day-to-day operations of Setas and SDFs. Sam Morotoba spoke to The Skills Portal about the thinking behind the regulations.

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