WELCOME REMARKS BY DEPUTY CHAIR OF LIMPOPO HRDC, MEC FOR EDUCATION POLLY BOSHIELO AT THE MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL HRD COUNCIL  WITH THE NATIONAL HRD COUNCIL, LANDMARK LODGE, POLOKWANE, 17 FEBRUARY 2022.

Chairperson of the session

Members of the National HRDC EXCO

Members of the Limpopo HRDC EXCO

HRDC Secretariat

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning,

Let me take this rare opportunity to thank all of you for having deemed it necessary to be here. It is an honour for me to heartily welcome you all to this meeting of the National Human Resource Development Council. Your visit to Limpopo is highly appreciated not to mention the purpose which has made us gather in this fashion this morning. As Limpopo Human Resource Development Council, we are aware of the mammoth task that is before us and the continued need to work together in achieving and fulfilling our strategic goals and what the Council exist to do. The need for appropriate skills that Limpopo and the country at large require is a serious one and one that must occupy our day to day agenda.

We are aware that the role which must be played by the Council is so immense and critical, such that the alignment of the Provincial HRD Council work with the National HRD Council cannot be over emphasized. Let us agree that, there has to be a link and alignment between Provincial Council and the National Council. We must also agree that measures must certainly be put in place to strengthen this very necessary link in a manner that will foster and facilitate close collaboration between HRDC and Provincial Councils. We cannot operate outside the set objectives, in silos and in parallel lines.

Nothing must ever eclipse our strategic goals of the revised HRD Strategy Towards 2030 which include:

• The strengthening basic education and foundation programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Languages and Life Orientation.
• Expanding access to quality post-schooling education and training
• Improving research and technological innovation outcomes
• Production of appropriately skilled people for the economy
• A developmental/Capable state

Needless to say, the HRDC has an important role to play in improving public service delivery and administrative capacity. There is a massive responsibility on us, to build the foundational knowledge to respond to the pace at which this world is changing, to the world of work that is rapidly shaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Covid-19 has since shown us how far behind we are and the work that must be done to catch up with the realities of automation, artificial intelligence and robotics.

It has exposed us how far behind we are in terms of the skills that are required for the 21^st Century in our context as a Province and the Country respectively. What is clear to all of us, is that we need skills that will ensure that we are in tune with this fast changing world and also skills to ensure that we rebuild and grow the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. We know where we were before the pandemic and its devastating effects.

Our task, as a multi stakeholder body, comprising civil society, organised business and organised labour, is to over mobilise and collaborate in our quest to build a capable and ethical developmental state, hallmarked by appropriate skills. We must mobilise to build a foundation and skills for a transformed economy and society. We accordingly encourage social partners to work with government in these regards. Everyone, the whole of society, must roll up their sleeves and get involved.

The response must be adequate precisely because the task of producing appropriate skills that our province and country require is a serious one. We witness on a daily basis the plight of our people, especially the young people, who bear the brunt of unemployment. It is on this basis, that we must ensure proper alignment of the work that we do as the HRDC.

Each time we meet, we plan with all these challenges in mind, plan in a manner that encourages collaboration and innovation and plan for the future.

With these few words, we welcome you to Limpopo and to this meeting. Your presence is highly appreciated and so is your constructive contribution in the meeting. Let the engagements be fruitful and decisive.

“Partnering to innovatively develop SA’s human potential”

I thank you very much.