The Gauteng government is implementing a bursary that premier Mbhazima Shilowa says will improve access to skills in scarce areas, including ICT.
Addressing the Provincial Legislature during his annual State of the Province address, Shilowa said: "To improve the availability of scarce skills in critical areas, we will this year pool our resources to establish a single province-wide bursary fund coordinated by the Global City Region Academy."
The province already awards bursaries worth R6.581 million to 120 full-time students and 368 part-time students, he said. "The new fund will target 1 500 learners in the 2008/9 financial year. Students pursuing studies in critical skills such as information and communications technology, science and engineering will be given preference."
The fund forms part of a skills development drive by the Gauteng government. "This year we will also launch the Gauteng City Region Academy which will drive the development of the necessary skills for economic growth and social transformation in the province."
According to Shilowa, the academy will also focus on research and development and innovation, as well as providing skills for the public service. "Next month we will establish a Gauteng skills partnership with representatives of organised business, higher education institutions, labour and Jipsa to ensure effective collaboration to achieve our skills objectives," he added.
The Gauteng government says it will work to forge closer relationships with further education and training (FET) colleges, sector education and training agencies (SETAs), industry and government. "Memoranda of understanding have been concluded with 19 of the 23 SETAs to assist 46 000 FET students to acquire the relevant skills," stated Shilowa.
The executive will announce a new target for learnerships and internships, he said.
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