JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has to urgently address the skills shortage by changing the curricula, and improve internet connectivity and vaccine production to grow the economy, said Deputy President David Mabuza on Thursday.
Mabuza made the remarks while addressing the Human Resource Development Council meeting in Johannesburg. The meeting was convened to chart the way forward to economic recovery post-COVID-19.
"The global society was confronted with the task of delivering knowledge and skills sets in a short time in order for nations to survive...It requires a quick paradigm shift and reorientation to realign the content of our curriculum offerings and skills development programs so that we can respond to the demands of industry and the economy," said Mabuza.
He said the country has a National Digital and Future Skills Strategy to build a new set of skills and capabilities for the country. Mabuza stated that the key resources and the right infrastructure must be provided to accelerate the provision of relevant and appropriate skills from the foundations of basic education to tertiary levels.
"Our focus as Council should be rooted on strategies that will see an increase in productivity and the realization of skills that are necessary for our country to become a knowledge and skills-based economy," he said.
Mabuza also said there has to be an urgent improvement in research and vaccine development, digital connectivity, and the introduction of alternative platforms to deliver education, health, and public services. ■
