Picture: North West MEC of Health, Dr Magome Masike
By BAKANG MOKOTO
A radical approach towards skill development was emphasised during the two day Provincial Skills Development Lekgotla in Rustenburg. The event was organised by the North West Provincial government.
The event was organised by the North West Provincial government.
North West MEC of Health department, Dr Magome Masike said: “The aim is to empower the youth and deepen skills development efforts to respond to the needs of the economy of the province.
“We discussed interrogated and devised strategies to upskill young people with expertise required by the economy of the province. Skills in the province will be developed through business incubation.”
Masike said effective approach integrated with the opportunities of the fourth Industrial Revolution and the Community Skills Development Centres will be prioritised. He further said these are some of the resolutions taken during the Lekgotla.
“The event was held under the theme: “The fourth industrial revolution and the opportunities for developing skills of the future in the province.” The Lekgotla was held to deepen skills development efforts and respond to the needs of the economy of the province.
“Skills Development Lekgotla will help the province to catch up with the 4th industrial revolution initiatives,” Masike said.
He added that some industries are already experiencing things such as artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing and so forth. Masike said this should radically change the approach to skills development.
“As a province, we need to have a four sided plan for this radical change, because the 4th industrial revolution will not only affect private sector, but all of us. The Lekgotla also created a platform for discussions on skills development initiatives which will contribute to the successful implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP).
“Presentations on different skills development efforts were made and probed. Amongst some of the resolutions taken was to analyse the skills needs toward effectively channelling prior learning into current training programmes,” he said.
Masike said the provincial skills gap analysis to be executed in line with an employment needs analysis. He said this will incorporate resistance to change- inclusivity, collaboration, organised labour, private sector, government, rural community skills development initiatives which create exposure to all Industrial Revolution opportunities.
“Since parts of South have not adequately taken hold of the 3rd IR thus cannot effectively do so with the 4th IR. Office of the Premier must champion the programme for recognition for prior learning.
“Private companies should encourage sharing bursaries and training programmes with both provincial government and local government to form part of the skills development,” Masike said.
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