Skills shortage addressed by Youth Council
Mkhonto High School class of 2016 honoured
HIGHER education is not only limited to universities, and if we are serious about addressing a shortage of skills in this country, we must redirect our students to TVET Colleges, as they are proving to be the future.
This sentiment was expressed by the City of uMhlathuze Youth Council Chairperson Wiwi Gumede.
He was speaking during the prize giving ceremony for the Class of 2016 held at Mkhonto High School, near KwaMthethwa area.
Gumede said, as the Youth Council, they were concerned to see scores of students who enrol at universities only to return with qualifications that make them unemployable.
‘The beauty of having graduates with the necessary skills required in the job market is that they don’t have to queue for employment, but can employ themselves. There is nothing more disturbing than having unemployed graduates, with their university qualifications hanging over their walls,’ he said.
Gumede also encouraged students to apply for funding aid schemes in time, while doing matric.
He said he was happy with the 71% pass rate that Mkhonto High School achieved in last year’s matric results, and challenged both learners and educators to aim for 100% pass rate in this year’s matric exams.
‘As the Youth Council we commit ourselves to invest in academic support for the students so there will be no excuse for them not to excel this year,’ he said.
Gumede was accompanied by King Cetshwayo District Municipality Chief Whip Cllr Thamsanqa ‘Nkunzi’ Gcabashe, who applauded students for wearing a complete uniform and for being disciplined.
‘I’m here to encourage you to take your education seriously, as it is the only key to a bright future.
When you graduate as students, you play a pivotal role in developing your communities, and that itself reduces the number of dependents for social grants, which gives room for the government to focus on other service delivery initiatives,’ he said.
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