The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that skills development opportunities reach communities across South Africa, particularly in rural and historically disadvantaged areas, as part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment and expand access to specialised training.
Speaking at the launch of the WorldSkills South Africa (WSZA)-Elangeni Aircraft Maintenance Academy, held recently at Elangeni TVET College in Inanda Campus, north of Durban, Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector remained committed to taking skills directly to communities often excluded from economic opportunities.
"The Ministry is committed to the efforts of the Post-School Education and Training sector to take skills to the people, especially in rural areas," Dube-Ncube said.
She said government was determined to ensure that young people's access to employment opportunities was not limited by their gender, social and economic background, and their environment.
"Our bias remains that we want to see improvement and skills transfer and acquisition happening in areas that are often considered peripheral to the agenda of the skills revolution," Dube-Ncube said.
The academy, launched through a strategic public-private partnership between Elangeni TVET College, WorldSkills South Africa and Starlite Aviation, is the first academy within the public education sector to offer specialised aircraft maintenance training.
The initiative is expected to play a significant role in developing technical skills for South Africa's aviation industry while opening career opportunities for young people from underserved communities.
Dube-Ncube described the academy as a tangible demonstration of government's commitment to ensuring that education and skills development create viable pathways that open the doors to employment and subsequently create a future, where “development is not just an ideal but a realisation.”
"Our commitment to the skills revolution extends beyond the lecture room and classroom. It is a commitment that seeks to ensure that we reduce the harrowing percentage of youth unemployment," the Deputy Minister said.
Dube-Ncube added that the academy remains a realisation of the work and hope for the youth of South Africa, who should never be limited by their backgrounds.
"The students of Inanda can be artisans, technicians, and belong to the aviation industry too," she said.
She expressed hope that the academy will also inspire young people across the country, including those living in remote areas of Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga, to pursue careers in engineering and aircraft maintenance.
"The sky is not the limit. We are encouraged to shatter the glass ceiling [and] see young women and men dominating the skills industry, " Dube-Ncube said.
The launch comes during Youth Month, a period in which South Africa commemorates the role of young people in the country's history and reflects on the challenges facing today's youth.
“This youth month, we say our revolution is present to the needs of the Youth of South Africa. We recognize fully that innovation, African advancement, designing of systems, technical expertise for industry access and improvement, lies solely in the hands of our youth!” Dube-Ncube said. – SAnews.gov.za
