Collaboration: Preparing today’s workers for tomorrow’s workplace
The pandemic has significantly disrupted training programmes, but progress has still been made
Innovation and digitilization must take centre stage of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Programme if it is to be a success. This is according to Dr Bonginkosi “Blade” Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, who was delivering the keynote address at the National Skills Authority’s 2021 National Skills Conference. The event was held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
The Minister highlighted the importance of skills development in the context of the National Human Resource Development Strategy, challenging delegates to emerge with concrete suggestions and plans to strengthen industry partnerships between education, training institutions and the business sector.
Programme Director Thulani Tshefuta from the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA) opened proceedings by acknowledging that the conference theme of “Promoting innovation and digitalization in the skills development ecosystem and contributing towards a responsive future of inclusive growth” was a loaded one. The two-day proceedings, he said, would focus on the actions and skills needed to shift South Africa into the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and cement its position in the global digital economy
While stressing the importance of this theme, Tshefuta also urged delegates to engage critically with the topic at hand to combat social alienation in a machine-dominated world and to ensure that algorithms do not promote new forms of racism and class prejudice. The powers of new technologies should be harnessed to overcome the historical problems of oppression and exploitation.
Represented at the conference were public and private stakeholders, Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAS), quality councils and industry. And although the formal conference theme was one of digitisation, the underlying thread was how renewed and increased collaboration between industry leaders is needed for success.
According to the Chairperson of the National Skills Authority (NSA), Dr Charles Nwaila, skills development as a pillar of economic growth has always been a priority. It was, however, more important now due to “the unprecedented socioeconomic position we find ourselves in, further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
The aims of the conference included:
• To strengthen public, private and international collaborations to enhance modern, high quality and agile skills development systems;
• To review the skills that would be needed in
the future world of work;
• To align processes with the National Digital
and Future Skills Strategy; and
• To review the implementation of the National
Skills Development Plan (NSDP).
The conference, furthermore, provided social partners with a platform to pledge their support and commitment to the NSDP. Development stakeholders could highlight their organisations and their needs, disseminate information and emphasise the importance of the skills development ecosystem and all its parts.
In addressing the needs for the skills of the future, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Philemon Mapulane, said that
a National Future and Digital Skills Strategy was approved by cabinet in October 2020.
The conference heard that a curriculum focused on early childhood development, digital literacy and skills for the future of work for Industry 4.0 is critical to foster and implement digital skills as a core competency. The implementation of a District Development Model (DDM) will further help solve the problems of both vertical and horizontal silos that currently hinder integration and narrow the gap between the people and the government. The DDM will especially align skills development to the needs of district municipalities, and capacitate local governance for economic growth and service delivery.
The skills development landscape was severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing the ability to train and implement to a near standstill. Despite this, government, business, organised labour, community constituency and private skills and employment providers reported on progress made since the last Skills Conference in 2019.
Some of the highlights from the government included:
• 31 469 people have been permanently
placed in government departments;
• A requirement for minimum work experience for appointment into entry positions in the public service has been introduced; and
• A public service graduate recruitment
scheme is also now a reality.
Organised Labour reported that progress has
been made in vetting the NSDP to ensure that the plan supports economic growth and employment creation, with specific focus on young graduates and unemployed young people.
From the business sector, achievements were evident in the skills development programmes, learnerships, bursaries and apprenticeships as reported by all 21 SETAS that business had collaborated with. It also introduced a youth employment scheme and collaborated with various stakeholders to deliver a free-to-use web tool for SMME development. This was done to help small businesses with labour relations processes and mentorship.
The Community Constituency boasted how it had started to unpack the 4IR to communities in a way that they can understand the impact thereof, and how it can actively help mainstream system development.
The Covid-19 pandemic, from a skills development and private employment standpoint, has significantly influenced the skills demand. The needs of the labour market and economic climate were forcefully redirected, which caused an immediate shift towards full digitisation. In addition, skills development partners supported the government in ensuring an effective transition to digital modes of delivery to allow for equal access to skills development opportunities.
Stakeholders were urged to rise to the challenge of delivering equal access and equitable skills development opportunities for all South Africans. It is only by working together that the workers of today will be prepared for the workplace of tomorrow.