The South African government aims to combat the current artisan shortage by scaling up artisan training, with the assistance of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Merseta), Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande said on Thursday

But he added that the human resources development strategy, which was a determined response from government to the artisan shortage, among other training backlogs, demanded collective action from all stakeholders to arrest a decline that had been steadily worsening since 1993.

The Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) were critical to the country's human resources development. But Merseta was particularly important, as it focused its energies on manufacturing, engineering and related services skills, which were fundamental to the success of the Industrial Policy Action Plan.

"Government believes that manufacturers are the engines of long-sustainable growth and there should be an emphasis on increased labour production and absorption of services," he said.

Merseta CEO Raymond Patel said that Merseta was rising to the training challenge, specifically highlighting the accelerated artisan training that it had developed over the past three years.

Nzimande congratulated Merseta on the programme, as it, along with the participation of employers, has assisted in facilitating a marked increase in apprenticeship registrations. The authority's retrenchment assistance programme also aims to assist society and retrain artisans that have lost their jobs.

Patel added that Merseta's science and mathematics education project had also proved successful, with 968 learner participants in 2009 and a pass rate of 97%.

"Merseta is working hard to meet the skills needs in the country, but still more needs to be done. All stakeholders should work together and be guided by the continuity of what works and change what does not work to accelerate skills development in South Africa," concluded Nzimande.