Maritime schools boost for youth
Eastern Cape links oceans economy to jobs training
EASTERN Cape youth will be developed to ensure they are employable through the establishment of more maritime schools in the province by next year. This is according to Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane.
He was speaking on the first day of the 2017 South African Maritime Industry Conference in Port Elizabeth yesterday.
The two-day conference brings together industry leaders from all over the country and abroad to plan the development of South Africa’s maritime industry.
“Maritime skills are a critical enabler in the oceans economy, hence the Department of Education is planning to expand the reach of maritime high schools to other parts of the province in 2018, adding to the existing two schools,” Qoboshiyane said.
He did not give more details about the maritime schools.
“Any economic growth must be people-centred,” he said. “Investments, manufacturing and education must be centred on human development and not just on profits and revenue streams for private companies involved.”
He was speaking on behalf of Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle.
Qoboshiyane highlighted the need for skills development that could create a crucial link between the country’s high unemployment rate and the professionals and workforce needed to develop the potential of the oceans economy.
“Let us work together to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty in the province through these programmes [which could contribute up to] R177-billion through this sector into our economy.”
He said the conference was the perfect opportunity to develop workable plans for the government to implement.
Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande also attended the conference.
“Figures have shown that 60% of our country’s GDP comes from foreign trade, and our maritime sector is a crucial part of that trade,” Nzimande said.
“Skills associated with the maritime industry have been identified as scarce skills, and therefore we must invest more to bridge this skills gap.”
Also speaking at the conference, Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip used the weekend’s Ironman African Championships as an example of tourism’s potential for economic development, and how the coastline played a vital part in our local sports and recreation industry.