Cape Town - The Department of Higher Education and Training has embarked on a National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS3) to help stave off unemployment and create jobs.
The programme is set be implemented through the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) from April.
The key driving force of the initiative would be to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the skills development system.
The project would also link skills development to career paths and development and "promote sustainable employment and in-work progression."
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga made the announcement today during a media briefing at Parliament in Cape Town.
The briefing follows President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address last week, in which he highlighted job creation as one of the five key government priorities this year.
The briefing was also attended by Ministers of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande, Health Aaron Motsoaledi and Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile.
Motshekga said that the emphasis of the NSDS3 would be to "enable those who do not have relevant technical skills or adequate reading, writing and numeracy skills to access employment.
"Central to the objectives of the NSDS3 is improved placement of both students and graduates, especially from the FET colleges and university of technology," she said.
Some of the features of the programme included a drop in mandatory grant rates to 40 percent and the creation of a 10 percent PIVOTAL (professional, vocational, technical and academic placement) allowance to compensate for this reduction.
