Education is key, says TVET

The key objective in introducing a critical higher education and training (HEAIDS) programme into the TVET college sector is to ensure we have healthy citizens, which will see a rise in the return on investment and improve our economy, says deputy minister of higher education and training, Mduduzi Manana.
He was the keynote speaker during the HEAIDS First Things First (HIV/TB/STI) provincial TVET activation programme hosted by the Waterberg TVET College at its Lebowakgomo campus on Monday. The First Things First campaign forms part of the 2012-2016 National Strategic Plan for HIV, STIs and TB to maximise opportunities for testing for HIV. The programme provides for the testing of large numbers using HIV rapid finger prick tests. It is supported by an appropriate pre-test and post-test counselling and education programme.
Manana said that the event was timely, considering that president Jacob Zuma recognised the imperative to develop the TVET college sector growth through identifying 16 sites for the construction of 12 new technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college campuses and the refurbishment of two existing campuses in the most under-privileged areas in his 2015 State of the Nation Address.
“It is a known fact that the growth of the sector will escalate and our dedication to youth will pay off with healthy returns on investment, specifically considering the annual target of ensuring that 1-million job opportunities for youth are targeted annually, as outlined in our current National Development Plan,” he said.
“So much money is injected by the Government into higher education and training, therefore there must be a focus on throughputs to ensure that those who graduate feed into the dire skills required to uplift the economy,” Manana said, adding that the government cannot be skilling people who could die prematurely because they did not take precautions or led healthy lifestyles after testing positive.
“It should be each and everyone’s aspiration to get employed or to be entrepreneurs and uplift their communities and the country at large, that have invested so much in them.”
“Since the commencement of this campaign within the TVET Sector, large numbers of learners have tested positive,” he said. “However, this picture is not gloomy but gives an opportunity for better planning by the government and partners to provide workable solutions.”
“The HEAIDS will ensure that pre- and post counselling as well as relevant support for those who have tested positive but I encourage those who have tested negative to remain negative.”
Manana touched on the phenomenon of “sugar daddies – grown up men who prey on young girls who are desperate.’ He said that the girls’ desperation could be attributed to the socio-economic challenges, such as poverty and insufficient accommodation in TVET Colleges in particular. “This makes young girls to find solace in married adults who knowingly or unknowingly infect them.”
He urged young girls to chase these men away. “We are sending a strong warning to them [sugar daddies] to refrain from getting closer to our colleges,” he warned.
He also encouraged students who are sexually active to use protection and study. “I am told that about 900 artisans have been imported to work at Medupi, because the country does not have those specific skills. We want to see you occupying those skills in the near future.”