We`ve turned the corner, says IT SETA

Johannesburg, 16 Aug 2002

Six months after it came under heavy criticism for non-delivery, the Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies (ISETT) Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) is confident it has "turned the corner" and is well on its way to delivery in the sector.

<B>A big year for ICT, says Ngcaba</B>

Describing 2002 as an important year for the local ICT industry, Andile Ngcaba, director-general of the Department of Communications, reiterated the government`s commitment to creating a knowledge society in SA.
Ngcaba told delegates at the ISETT SETA outreach breakfast that various major developments will impact on the African ICT arena, among them the recent G8 endorsement of the Nepad programme, an upcoming ITU plenipotentiary conference on bridging the digital divide, the launch of the African Union, plans for a South African ICT University and the launch of an ICT forum for women.
Ngcaba welcomed these developments, saying it is essential that skills development be boosted - especially among the youth and women - to ensure that all South Africans can participate in a knowledge society. The ISETT SETA`s role is to bridge the gap in skills and knowledge, said Ncgaba.
"SA must not be left behind the rest of the world in terms of ICT developments," he said. "The best way to ensure that this does not happen is to develop skills."

ISETT SETA CEO Mateli Mpuntsha told stakeholders at an outreach breakfast in Midrand today that the authority has dealt with its "teething problems" and is now in a position to be at the helm of skills development in the sector.

ISETT board chairman Thabo Mpama said it had seen a "huge shift from its problems six months ago, and was now on the right track".

ISETT says its recent skills audit research indicates that over 72% of working adults are ill-equipped to participate in the Information Age economy. The SETA feels it is in a key position to address this challenge.

Sam Morotoba, executive director, labour market skills development programme of the Department of Labour, said SA`s SETAs had been criticised unfairly. He pointed out that they had been officially established only two years ago, and had been expected to start delivering immediately.

In contrast, many training authorities overseas had taken many years to become fully functional, he said. However, Morotoba conceded that there are still problems in various SETAs, but said the Department of Labour is taking steps to address these.

The outreach breakfast was part of a programme to communicate more effectively with stakeholders in the sector. The SETA reported back on progress in making the organisation customer-focused and accountable, and towards meeting the objective of implementing at least 1 000 learnerships by March next year.

The SETA`s ETQA division also took the opportunity to launch a new toolkit aimed at helping training providers meet the division`s requirements.