Unisa online - Reputation of FET Colleges needs to improve

Prof Mandla Makhanya (Unisa's Principal & Vice-Chancellor), Dr Blade Nzimande (Minister of Higher Education and Training), Judith McHale (US Undersecretary of Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs) & Donald Gibbs (US Ambassador to South Africa)

“The reputation of South Africa’s FET Colleges needs to change and the quality of education must improve,” said Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training.

He was speaking during a joint conference with the US Embassy hosted at Unisa on Tuesday 10 May 2011, which aimed to address skills development challenges in various industries.

“We need to improve the quality of education offered at our FET Colleges so that they can be a true skills development hub of our country. We need to change the reputation of these FETs because they need to become colleges of choice for our people. Same as in America, we need to copy what they are doing right which is to have an education system that works with businesses and employers in order for students to be properly trained and prepared for successful careers,” said Minister Nzimande.

America‘s Undersecretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith McHale, said they will be expanding the joint educational programmes between the United States Government and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training.

“The United States and South Africa both need to explore the means through which education between the secondary and university or varsity levels can give our young people the skills that help them find real, long-term employment and that help meet our nations’ changing economic needs in the 21st century. I am pleased to announce that through our expanded initiative, we will be seeking additional ways to link community colleges across the United States with Further Education and Training centres here in South Africa. Using online conferencing platforms and other connective technologies, we will bring together educational administrators in the US and in South Africa so that they can share their experiences and best ideas. In addition, we will create opportunities for community college administrators and faculty from the United States to visit South African centres under the Fulbright Senior Specialist Programme. This will allow them to share their knowledge in person and take ideas from South Africa back to American schools,” said Ms McHale.

The conference was attended by many industry leaders, including representatives from the Royal Bafokeng Holdings, IBM and Busara Leadership Partners.