While budgetary constraints continue to limit the number of graduates produced by the e-Cadre programme, government remains committed to carrying out the initiative, says the Department of Communications (DOC).
Speaking at the opening of the second phase of the e-Cadre project, communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda revealed the department had spent around R8 million in training since it was introduced.
“We further commit to spend an additional amount towards the service deployment component of the programme,” he said.
The e-Cadre programme is an initiative of the DOC, the National Youth Service and 15 Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. Introduced in 2007, it aims to provide ICT skills training to young people.
The initiative has three different phases - formal training, service deployment and exit strategy. The first phase was concluded in 2008, with the training of 765 matriculants on the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) through the 15 FET colleges, in partnership with the DOC.
Nyanda noted an additional 350 IT graduates have since been recruited to provide technical support in service deployment areas where they assist communities to access government services through the use of ICT.
“The e-Cadre programme addresses one of the key challenges facing SA: the creation of skilled personnel to respond to the human resource needs our thriving economy requires, especially in the ICT sector.”
Youth strategy
Nyanda added that the DOC is finalising a youth and ICT strategy, which would guide projects in government, the ICT sector, and state-owned enterprises. The focus would be on increasing investment in youth programmes and promoting youth development through ICT.
The DOC would promote FET colleges as ICT centres of excellence and turn them into the “first port of call for ICT training in the country”. Progress has been made, with the establishing of close partnerships with employers and SETAs, but more could still be done, he noted.
“Our success will be measured on our ability to ensure the participants acquire a set of key skills that would enable them to contribute towards the growth of our economy in general and the ICT industry in particular. This places an enormous responsibility on my department, the Department of Education and others who are involved in skills development to avail resources and to increase access to and usage of ICT by all South Africans.”
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