Report back COMMISSION 2 Alignment of the Human Resource Development Strategy to the National Growth Path Programme Director: Ms Beulah Mosupye Presenter: Ms Carmel Marock Discussant: Ms Jocellyn Vass Rapporteur: Dr Herneela Narsee

The Research Paper Better alignment of skills development with needs of economy – NGP & NDP Despite high investment in skills, SA still can’t supply necessary skills economic growth Skills planning done sectorally through SETA’s

KEY MESSAGES FROM RESPONDENT In being inclusive we gave equal attention to the development of all sectors, yet there are sectors we know are key drivers of the economy – we need to focus more on these Inclusive Differentiation with sector prioritisation required Learn from how Malaysia and Singapore

KEY MESSAGES FROM RESPONDENT Need to get the basics right (language and numeracy skills) Skills planning must follow economic planning Skills planning needs to be differentiated accordingly Need to address obstacles to importing skills

SKILLS AND THE ECONOMY: ANOTHER VIEW We have the skills, but the economy is not absorbing the skills – broken bridge The economy needs to be structurally transformed to absorb existing skills. Need to know where and what skills required? Who are the takers? Consider targeted training that can address specific skills gaps

QUALIFICATIONS VS COMPETENCIES Cannot equate qualifications with competencies and vice versa - Can have plumber with plumbing skills but no formal qualifications Legacy of unequal education Recognition of prior learning (RPL) can be used to deal with this problem, however the RPL process has its own challenges Not all training should lead to qualifications – should be part of life-long learning - role of work based training

THE BUSINESS SECTOR Business has a critical role to play but this must not be limited to big business. Need enabling environment for small business to play their role Legislation should be less restrictive on what is training and what is not. Focus should be on learning and equipping labour with requisite skills Expand business to include social enterprises/cooperatives and how they can be used to drive a skills development

SOME REASONS FOR SKILLS GAPS Not all skills gaps (perceived shortages) can be addressed through education and training. Have to understand reasons for gaps and address the problem. Some reasons: Lack of experience Conditions of service (low wages) Working environment (e.g. social workers) Often the problem is top-up skills. Not qualifications. Selection processes of companies (some companies do not recruit graduates from certain universities) People not working in the fields that they qualified in

WORK EXPERIENCE Work exposure is important Need programmes for work exposure (even for children from Grade 9) Need enabling environment for small business to play their role in providing an opportunity for young people to have work exposure. Current frameworks need to change.

GENERAL Values are as important as skills SA diaspora are a good resource for skills Problems with foundational skills are international

Summary Be inclusive and simultaneously differentiate on focus given to sectors that are economic growth drivers Impact of the legacy of unequal education Enabling environment to be achieved to allow business, big and small to train and grow skills for the economy A properly aligned HRD strategy should allow for mobility of skills within the economy

Summary Foundation phase is critical not in teaching language and numeracy skills only but for inculcating a value system that can support the national vision Tapping into the Diaspora should not be neglected Interventions needed at different levels of development, not just foundation phase Open up the workplace for learning