Nzimande opens academy
UMFOLOZI Maritime Academy has the duty and the responsibility to take forward the legacy of the women of 1956, by ensuring that it accepts both men and women and promotes a climate, culture and environment conducive for gender equality.
This sentiment was expressed by the Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande, during the official launch of the Academy, held at eSikhaleni on Tuesday.
‘This month should serve to remind us of the sacrifices of the women of 1956.
‘I want to assure the TVET college sector that my ministry, which now combines Higher education, Science and Innovations, is not going to drop the vocational education and training.
‘I will still continue to give priority to the expansion and improvement of quality and increased programme offerings, like we are doing today,’ he said.
Nzimande said it has come to his attention that there is a lot of innovation taking place in TVET colleges, but government has not been supportive.
‘The government has been supporting innovations in universities, but not TVET colleges. I want to commit myself today that my department will set aside money to incentivise and support TVET colleges as well,’ he said.
Nzimande further said that the maritime sector still needs to be transformed.
‘As the department, we will be implementing the new SETA (Services Sector Education and Training Authority) landscape.
‘We want all the service SETAs to have relationship with TVET colleges. We know that many SETAs support private colleges.
‘We are not against that, but we want them to start supporting the public TVET colleges, because this is where children from poor families are studying.
‘One of the agreements we have with service SETAS is that, every year, they must give account of what they have done in supporting public TVET colleges,’ he said.
Nzimande said he was delighted with the educational programmes offered by eSikhaleni TVET Maritime College.
‘Children must explore various opportunities available for them at the institution. Even those who hail from poor families are allowed to study for free. NSFAS will continue to support learners in TVET colleges. We have set aside R20billion for the next three years,’ said Nzimande.
The launch was also attended by KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu.