Date: 02/06/2003
Source: Department of Education
Title: Asmal: Central Johannesburg Further Education and Training College plaque unveiling
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, MP, AT THE UNVEILING OF THE INAUGURATION PLAQUE AT CENTRAL JOHANNESBURG PUBLIC FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGE, 2 JUNE 2003
MEC for Education, Mr Ignatius Jacob
Deputy Director-General, Mr Khetsi Lehoko
Provincial Head of Department, Mr Malele Petje
Chairperson of the College Council, Professor JW Makhene
College CEO, Mr Motsumi Makhene
Member of the Board of Business Trust, Mr Rick Menell
Invited Guests
We are gathered here today to unveil the inauguration plaque of the new Central Johannesburg Further Education and Training (FET) College. It gives me great pleasure to be able to officiate at this symbolically important event in the life of one of our public FET colleges.
As you know, I declared all 152 Technical/Vocational Colleges in South Africa Further Education and Training Colleges in September 2001. I then directed these colleges to merge in order to form 50 multi-campus institutions which would be more viable and effective. Two weeks ago, on 15 May 2003, I launched the fifty public FET colleges at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The FET college sector has a great value in the transformation of our education and training system. The sector is designed to make a significant contribution to the national Human Resource Development Strategy. The college sector is best positioned to provide intermediate and higher skills needed for economic growth and social development. For students, the sector aims to develop knowledge and skills for meaningful participation in the economy and in higher education. This was not the case in the previous dispensation, where college qualifications were terminal, and did not lead to higher levels of education and training.
The FET college sector will play an important role in the Government's campaign to significantly increase the number of learnerships. Collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Labour in this regard is crucial. This collaboration is beginning to blossom as SETA related learnerships are beginning to be introduced in several fields of study. Currently 108 such programmes have been adopted by 29 colleges.
We cannot continue to offer the same old programmes that were offered by technical colleges thirty years ago. We should lay to rest the apartheid assumption that students who choose to go to colleges are inferior, and should therefore be offered uninspiring programmes. We need laboratory and aviation technicians. We have to develop mining and medical technicians. We need to open new avenues for our young people.
I am aware that new and exciting programmes are coming online in many colleges across the country. For example, programmes aimed at aspirant pilots, engineers and medical staff have been developed for the Airforce, and are being offered at the Kempton Park Campus of the Ekurhuleni East FET College. A Hotel and Catering programme, approved by the relevant SETA, was recently introduced in several colleges. This programme includes on-the-job training in business units operating within the colleges. A new agricultural programme, with hydroponic technology as a key component, has been introduced in the North West.
The FET college sector contributes greatly to the development of applied competence as required by the National Qualifications Framework. This is done through creating a balance between theory and practice, between education and training. A narrow academic approach will not suffice, nor will a mundane practical approach. A twenty-first century world of work requires graduates who are well prepared to transform information into knowledge, and to put such knowledge to good practical use. A strong balance between the practical and the theoretical forms a solid basis for lifelong learning.
One of the key driving forces of change in FET colleges are partnerships with higher education institutions and industry. It is pleasing to know that the Central Johannesburg College has entered into partnerships with higher education and the private sector in the area of Information and Communications Technology.
A year from now the College should count many more of these collaborative projects. The College should build a larger network of institutions and organisations that will allow it offer programmes that will expand the frontiers of opportunity and prosperity for all its students.
I am pleased to know that, in partnership with an overseas development organisation, the Central Johannesburg College has adopted a strategic plan to develop its human resources to meet industry and quality requirements. The college has developed a Human Resources Development Plan that includes leadership and management training, and quality management training.
I am pleased to note that this college is also setting an example for the sector by being pro-active. You have made good progress in developing governance structures, processes and procedures that will enable you to transform effectively and efficiently. I hope you will share your experiences with other colleges, some of whom, I must say, are in a less satisfactory state of development.
Today we witness the launch of the new corporate identity of the Central Johannesburg Public FET College. The purpose of the launch this morning is not only to show you the new logo, but also to urge you to further strengthen your commitment to the development of our new FET colleges and to consolidate the partnerships between the college sector and higher education.
UNVEILING OF THE PLAQUE
It is a great honour for me to unveil the inauguration plaque of Central Johannesburg Public FET College and to introduce the new logo of the college.
We are proud of the success achieved by this institution thus far and look forward to its continued growth in meeting the aspirations and needs of our people in the years ahead.
Issued by the Department of Education
Source: Department of Education
Title: Asmal: Central Johannesburg Further Education and Training College plaque unveiling
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, MP, AT THE UNVEILING OF THE INAUGURATION PLAQUE AT CENTRAL JOHANNESBURG PUBLIC FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGE, 2 JUNE 2003
MEC for Education, Mr Ignatius Jacob
Deputy Director-General, Mr Khetsi Lehoko
Provincial Head of Department, Mr Malele Petje
Chairperson of the College Council, Professor JW Makhene
College CEO, Mr Motsumi Makhene
Member of the Board of Business Trust, Mr Rick Menell
Invited Guests
We are gathered here today to unveil the inauguration plaque of the new Central Johannesburg Further Education and Training (FET) College. It gives me great pleasure to be able to officiate at this symbolically important event in the life of one of our public FET colleges.
As you know, I declared all 152 Technical/Vocational Colleges in South Africa Further Education and Training Colleges in September 2001. I then directed these colleges to merge in order to form 50 multi-campus institutions which would be more viable and effective. Two weeks ago, on 15 May 2003, I launched the fifty public FET colleges at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The FET college sector has a great value in the transformation of our education and training system. The sector is designed to make a significant contribution to the national Human Resource Development Strategy. The college sector is best positioned to provide intermediate and higher skills needed for economic growth and social development. For students, the sector aims to develop knowledge and skills for meaningful participation in the economy and in higher education. This was not the case in the previous dispensation, where college qualifications were terminal, and did not lead to higher levels of education and training.
The FET college sector will play an important role in the Government's campaign to significantly increase the number of learnerships. Collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Labour in this regard is crucial. This collaboration is beginning to blossom as SETA related learnerships are beginning to be introduced in several fields of study. Currently 108 such programmes have been adopted by 29 colleges.
We cannot continue to offer the same old programmes that were offered by technical colleges thirty years ago. We should lay to rest the apartheid assumption that students who choose to go to colleges are inferior, and should therefore be offered uninspiring programmes. We need laboratory and aviation technicians. We have to develop mining and medical technicians. We need to open new avenues for our young people.
I am aware that new and exciting programmes are coming online in many colleges across the country. For example, programmes aimed at aspirant pilots, engineers and medical staff have been developed for the Airforce, and are being offered at the Kempton Park Campus of the Ekurhuleni East FET College. A Hotel and Catering programme, approved by the relevant SETA, was recently introduced in several colleges. This programme includes on-the-job training in business units operating within the colleges. A new agricultural programme, with hydroponic technology as a key component, has been introduced in the North West.
The FET college sector contributes greatly to the development of applied competence as required by the National Qualifications Framework. This is done through creating a balance between theory and practice, between education and training. A narrow academic approach will not suffice, nor will a mundane practical approach. A twenty-first century world of work requires graduates who are well prepared to transform information into knowledge, and to put such knowledge to good practical use. A strong balance between the practical and the theoretical forms a solid basis for lifelong learning.
One of the key driving forces of change in FET colleges are partnerships with higher education institutions and industry. It is pleasing to know that the Central Johannesburg College has entered into partnerships with higher education and the private sector in the area of Information and Communications Technology.
A year from now the College should count many more of these collaborative projects. The College should build a larger network of institutions and organisations that will allow it offer programmes that will expand the frontiers of opportunity and prosperity for all its students.
I am pleased to know that, in partnership with an overseas development organisation, the Central Johannesburg College has adopted a strategic plan to develop its human resources to meet industry and quality requirements. The college has developed a Human Resources Development Plan that includes leadership and management training, and quality management training.
I am pleased to note that this college is also setting an example for the sector by being pro-active. You have made good progress in developing governance structures, processes and procedures that will enable you to transform effectively and efficiently. I hope you will share your experiences with other colleges, some of whom, I must say, are in a less satisfactory state of development.
Today we witness the launch of the new corporate identity of the Central Johannesburg Public FET College. The purpose of the launch this morning is not only to show you the new logo, but also to urge you to further strengthen your commitment to the development of our new FET colleges and to consolidate the partnerships between the college sector and higher education.
UNVEILING OF THE PLAQUE
It is a great honour for me to unveil the inauguration plaque of Central Johannesburg Public FET College and to introduce the new logo of the college.
We are proud of the success achieved by this institution thus far and look forward to its continued growth in meeting the aspirations and needs of our people in the years ahead.
Issued by the Department of Education
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