SAGDA PRESENTATION
‘PUBLIC HEARINGS ON YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT’ TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON LABOUR
The Chairperson
Port-Folio Committee members
Academics
Youth development stakeholders
Ladies and Gentlemen
As SAGDA we join the ten of thousandth of South Africans and
peoples of the globe in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of June
16. It was thirty years ago when the
youth of South Africa revolted against the use of Afrikaans as medium of
instruction and other forms of oppression.
SAGDA is elated to be given the platform to share its views and opinion
on this critical issue in the lives of young people; youth unemployment. We
are gravely concerned that, a culture of action for impact is not
deep-rooted among all stakeholders that deal with youth development; thus youth
unemployment will forever engulf our nation. We are concerned because we all
seem to be still battling with concepts and plans rather than evaluating of
actions. We are gravely concerned that as government endeavors to create an
enabling environment for youth to be developed, are young people listening,
comprehending the challenges at hand and do young people have the intrinsic
desire to respond to these challenges
The legislative framework for youth development has been laid and
strategies have been conceived, all that is left is to deliver on expectations.
Therefore, the thrust of this presentation
will focus on youth unemployment within the context of graduate development
and employment. It will be based on SAGDA’s observations and analysis for
having dealt with graduate unemployment and its impact on society over the
years.
The South African Graduate Development Association- a non-governmental youth (graduate) initiative
registered in 1997 as a section 21 Company whose overall objective is to
strengthen civil society through the empowerment of unemployed graduates for
social and economic transformation of our country. We salute the efforts of government for
integrating the youth development strategy in the Accelerated Shared Growth
Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA) and more profoundly for putting our
primary target, the graduate on the pedestal of hope. It is through such
efforts that signalled the highest political passion and will for graduate development
and placement, when the Deputy President launched the ‘The Unemployed Graduate Placement Initiative’ on the 6 December
2006 and Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition on the 24 March 2006.
“The number of
unemployed graduates has grown significantly in the past five years. JIPSA must
seek ways of absorbing unemployed graduates into the economy whilst addressing
the mismatch in relation to the type of training offered to these students as
compared to skills needed by the job market”.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Deputy President, SA
Launch of JIPSA
3 March 2006
The above statement by the Deputy
President has brought renewed vigour and focus in our quest to empower
graduates-enzymes for change, to fulfil their role in the
socio-economic transformation of the country. Our presentation will attempt to provide a ‘graduate’ outlook in responding to the objectives of the hearings
on youth unemployment, namely;
·
To identify the nature, scope and challenges faced
by young people in accessing employment;
·
To identify gaps in legislation;
·
To consider the creation of jobs within the context
of economic policy, with specific reference to ASGISA; and
·
To gauge the effectiveness of labour market
institutions in dealing with the issue of youth unemployment.
We will strive to provide an analysis of the nature, scope and
challenges facing young people based on qualitative information rather than
otherwise. We will in realizing the alignment and/or integration of youth
development strategies within the ASGI-SA focus on graduate development and
integration. We will highlight the need for a ‘new’ moral order characterized
by a well-developed value system redefining the graduate of the future, which
will manifest in behavioral traits that are noble to the country. This is a
graduate with the consciousness to develop, share and contribute his /her
talents to nation-building.
Research
continues to indicate that while the economy is growing at a faster rate, this
growth is not directly proportional to the creation of jobs. Amongst some of
the causal factors put forth is the technological advancement of country
coupled with the demand for highly skilled labour. Young people with tertiary
education enjoy more preference that their other counter-parts due to their
high levels of literacy and intellectual capability. However, the
forever-changing labour environment has rendered other tertiary qualifications
becoming redundant. It will become evident when we deal with the section on job
creation, which skills will enjoy demand in the community.
The
definition of graduate unemployment remains contentious based on fact that, in
real terms graduates enjoy more job opportunities however, the relevance of the
job in relation to the study fields is nowhere. It is for this reason SAGDA has categorised such graduates as
under-employed-a relativity of unemployment.
SAGDA
observations and analysis thereof in working with graduates have yielded the
following assumptions;
|
Environmental
Factors |
Graduates |
|
q
The economic reality of a job-loss growing economy.
q
Negative perceptions against historically
disadvantaged Higher Education Institutions. q
Qualifications irrelevant to socio economic needs
of the country. q
ill preparedness of students on skills to survive
and tackle the world after study q
Lack of Role Models. q
Lack of adequate learnerships and internships. q
Opportunities centralised in metropolitan areas. |
q Graduates
do not have marketable skills q Unemployed
and Unemployable graduates. q Graduates
with a job and profession paradigm – unable to identify opportunity to use
their expertise outside this paradigm. q Graduates
have an attitude of Job Entitlement q Graduates
have a low level of motivation. q Graduates
study debt problem q Lack of
work experience and exposure q Poor
preparation for interviews q Attitude
of Individualism / Lack of social responsibility. |
GAPS IN LEGISLATION
The South African legislative framework as alluded above provides a
unique predisposition to youth development. Youth development-related aspects
seem to have been considered crafting of the legislation. The following
legislated policies have rendered themselves friendly to the youth, namely;
-
National Youth
Commission Act
-
National Youth Service
Act
-
Demutualisation Levy
Act
-
Skills Development Act
-
Labour Related Acts
Such As Employment Equity and Skills Development Acts
-
BBEE Act
These acts to have a meaningful impact in youth development, they should
translate into practices and norms. Furthermore, to gauge their effectiveness,
continuous monitoring and enforcement rather incentivisation should be the order of the day. Monitoring will
assist in dealing with the necessary amendments to keep them relevant and
abreast with the changing environment.
JOB-CREATION
FOR THE YOUTH
The key factor in integrating youth development in ASGISA lies in
examining and taking stock of youth-orientated legislation and agencies that
are tasked/mandated in implementing it. This should culminate into a national
youth portal of youth development programmes, communicated and accessible to
government, private sector and civil society.
The youth should understand that ASGISA aims amongst others to look at
the following;
-
Infra-structural development
-
Sector investment strategies
-
SMME development
-
Skills development
-
Poverty alleviation
The skills-base of South African youth needs to be researched in line
with human resource development needs of the country within the context of
ASGISA. This will assist in influencing the relevance of higher education and
skills development initiatives. Young people should be prepared while in the
schooling system which career paths that will provide opportunities for
personal and economic growth of the country.
While every responsible youth in this country is engaged in one
programme or the other, a centric approach with a ‘rippling effect’ is critical
in identifying and prioritising programmes that are primary and have impact on
secondary ones. SAGDA’s graduate
outlook informs us that, no amount of skills and knowledge, resources and/or
opportunities will benefit the South African youth if they do not graduate with
a set of defined peoples values. Therefore, a master programme, which is relevant within the context of the
National Youth Service and the goals of the Moral Regeneration Movement, should
be implemented with the following outputs;
-
defining South African values
-
what characterises the South
African youth
-
how do we re-channel the
energies of the youth into positive energy for nation-building
-
Importance of technology and
innovation in nation-building, do we have youth scientists and where are they?
-
Creating a centre of
intellect, who is the youth intelligentsia and where are they?
-
Inculcating an Action For Impact culture among the
youth, while we envision we need to act on our ideals.
-
inculcating the culture of
social responsibility and service
This programme should be a self-driven programme by reminding the youth
of energy that had engulfed the youth of yesteryear, every youth knew the there
was a concerted effort to hold Umrabulo meetings for political education.
Maybe now, the Umrabulo meetings can be based on socio-economic
education. Where are the political singers, who can compose new and relevant
slogans to ignite these energies for a new cause?
SAGDA views the utilisation of unemployed graduates as change agents in
the delivery of intended programmes crucial to fulfilling ASGI-SA goals. They
are in a better position to act as project leaders of various initiatives based
on the following reasons;
-
Graduates are spread
throughout the various sectors of the economy
-
They have high levels of
literacy and intellect that can assist in assimilating intended roles
-
Unemployed graduates’
self-esteem can be restored and young people can be encouraged to further their
studies
-
Unemployed graduates are also
nationally spread across all provinces
In summary, SAGDA is requesting all stakeholders to look at these
issues:
-
What are the principles and
goals that underpins AGSI-SA
-
Taking stock of youth
development programmes and consolidating in one national portal
-
Researching the skills base
of South African youth in line with HRD needs of the country
-
Higher education and labour
market intervention strategies
-
Integrating education with
socio-economic imperatives
-
Prioritization of youth
development programmes
-
Determining a master
programme; youth education
-
Graduates acting as change
agents
Exposure of the youth to the high growing economic sectors will prepare
them to take meaningful career decisions that are aligned to industry needs.
Social Development as a job Creation
strategy
SAGDA through previous work done in the communities has identified that
indeed there could be job opportunities through social development. SAGDA moves
from a premise that there is work in the country though there might not be
payment (gainful employment). The following are some of the examples where
graduates can be trained and deployed for impact:
-
addressing illiteracy in the
country
-
poor matric results where
graduates could provide extra classes (weekend, afternoons, etc)
-
service backlogs in the
public service – graduates can advance further the concept of community development workers, e.g.
o
law graduates can advance
access to legal services through legal centers
o
child, disability, foster grants
support services to our communities
o
parenting skills to parents
in relation to child rearing in today’s challenging world
o
commerce graduates could
assist in SMME development and support services
o
IT graduates can teach
children and the community computer skills and support services
Entrepreneurship development as a
job creation strategy
It has to be noted that the curriculum as its stands is not empowering
all the learners to be enterprising beings, .the Youth Enterprise Strategy led
by Umsobomvu Youth Fund need to be fast racked, especially at ensuring that
procurement opportunities for young people are secured especially through
government departments.
The NAFCOC’s strategy of creating 100 000 SMMEs can come useful in
utilising graduates as;
v Graduates
as business (general) advisors or managers
v Graduates
as technical (industrial) advisors or managers
v Graduates
as entrepreneurs through a New Venture Creation Programme and Co-operatives
Higher Education Intervention
DOE through the council on Higher Education has to advance the
implementation of the New Academic Policy, especially relating to critical
cross cutting fields which are basically life skills which all students should
posses after completion of their studies. Higher Education Institutions has to
partner with SAGDA in terms of graduate development as they are the central
custodians of the preparation of graduates.
EFFECTIVENESS OF LABOUR MARKET
INSTITUIONS
While SAGDA acknowledges the moral intentions and efforts of all
stakeholders in youth development, the lack of an integrated approach to youth
development will render our efforts inadequate. However, we trust that The
Presidency having taken the reigns to drive youth development, we will see all
efforts being synchronized for better service delivery in this arena.
A continuous communication and outreach strategy will assist in bringing
information nearer to the youth. The public broadcaster and all other
communication stakeholders should be the custodian of this strategy.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, SAGDA in
celebrating the struggles of our fallen heroes and in ensuring sure that
their sacrifices were not in vain, SAGDA will be hosting a Graduate Summit.
The strategic intent of the summit is to reposition and reaffirm SAGDA as a Brand for graduate
development and placement, while enhancing collective and sustainable
participation of all role-players. This will fulfil our vision; ‘An enabling
environment where graduates are integrated into the socio-economic mainstream’ It's
aimed that a number of objectives will be achieved through the Summit. The
summit will include academic and corporate sector presentations on areas such
as milestones, challenges and strategies; best practices in graduate
development and placement; integrating education and industry; the
responsibility of higher education in graduate development; a business
perspective on graduate employability; and social investment in graduate
development. A delivery plan will be dealt with through commissions that should
yield action for impact resolutions.
This summit will culminate in a
Gala Dinner on Friday evening June 30th to honour the Deputy President
for having flagged the graduate development issue to the highest office of the
country through ASGISA.
COMPILED BY: SOUTH
AFRICAN GRADUATES DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (SAGDA)
PRESENTED BY: RONNIE
MIDAKA
CONTACT DETAILS:
Tel: (011) 838-2526
E-mail: [email protected]
Ronnie Midaka