Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim, MP, has met with Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) at its Parktown, Johannesburg, headquarters to discuss the organisation’s work on skills funding and bursary support.
The meeting included an update from the organisation on its state, and the challenges it has faced under administration.
Cassim’s engagement with Services SETA highlights the need to focus on the organisation’s stabilisation and effective programmes of work.
The meeting followed the ongoing administration of Services SETA as the body responds to the challenges it has faced.
Services SETA informs Deputy Minister of progress
Masoga outlined the progress being made by Services SETA in stabilising its organisational structure and delivering on its programmes of work.
The briefing included an update on the organisation’s key programmes and areas in which government and other stakeholders would need to work collaboratively with Services SETA.
With Services SETA having been placed under administration, stabilising the organisation and ensuring effective programmes is an issue of focus for government.
The engagement therefore provided Cassim with an opportunity to acknowledge progress, and the areas in which collaboration with organisations such as South Africa’s Universities South Africa (USAf) and South African Public Colleges Organisation would be vital.
Skills development and employment focus
Cassim emphasised the need to strengthen relationships and develop appropriate mechanisms with partners such as USAf and the South African Public Colleges Organisation.
One of the organisation’s priorities is to ensure that unemployed South Africans are equipped with the skills to become economically self-sufficient.
For unemployed South Africans, skills-development, education and bursary support can play a crucial role in enhancing employability and enabling economic self-sufficiency.
Cassim’s engagement with Services SETA therefore included the importance of supporting the unemployed through skills-development, education and financial support, to help them become economically productive.
Role of bursary funding explored
Bursary support featured highly as a point of discussion between Cassim and Services SETA.
The Deputy Minister paid tribute to the work that the organisation was doing with USAf and the South African Public Colleges Organisation to ensure the distribution of funds to eligible students.
Such an approach is significant, as funding will enable eligible students to access post-school education opportunities.
For eligible students, accessing bursary support will enable the continuation of their studies without the burden of some of the costs that would be incurred.
Services SETA’s progress under administration
Cassim’s meeting with Services SETA emphasised the need to recognise the work that the organisation is doing to stabilise itself and deliver its programmes of work effectively.
Masoga and Services SETA’s senior management provided an overview of the progress that the organisation had made since it came under administration.
Cassim acknowledged the work being done by the organisation, highlighting the need for it to continue being productive to serve the needs of its stakeholders.
The focus on Services SETA’s stabilisation is important, as the programmes of work offered by the organisation are complex and involve a number of stakeholders, including learners, training providers, employers and educational institutions as well as government.
Partnerships to deliver skills-development
The engagement with Services SETA highlights the role of partnerships in the delivery of skills-development and education-funding programmes.
The collaboration between Services SETA, Universities South Africa and the South African Public Colleges Organisation is key in the delivery of education-funding programmes to eligible students.
For unemployed South Africans and students, the success of such an approach will be in ensuring that eligible students are supported to access post-school education.
Focus on beneficiaries’ needs
The engagement between Cassim and Services SETA will not result in any new bursary or learnership announcement at this time.
Instead, the meeting offered an update on the administration of the organisation, and its priorities for skills-development, bursary and learnership support.
People interested in opportunities from Services SETA should therefore continue to follow official announcements for new programmes of work, eligibility criteria, funding and closing dates for applications.
Applicants should be wary of people or organisations requesting money from them in exchange for access to opportunities funded by SETAs.
Administration under continued review
Cassim’s engagement with Services SETA marks his continued focus on the organisation as it stabilises itself under administration.
The focus on stabilisation, effective service-delivery, funding and partnerships will remain an important priority for Services SETA as it delivers on its mandate.
For unemployed South Africans and students who rely on services such as Skills SETA, the measure of success will be in how programmes are delivered effectively and opportunities are used to support the unemployed.
Source and reporting note
This article was independently written from information supplied about Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim’s engagement with Services SETA at its Parktown headquarters in Johannesburg.
The article distinguishes between developments, statements made during the engagement and the potential implications for beneficiaries.
Editorial policy
We report on education, skills development, bursaries and employment-related opportunities using a factual, reader-focused approach.
We do not present government or institutional statements as guarantees of future funding, employment or programme outcomes.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and does not constitute an official announcement from the Department of Higher Education and Training or Services SETA.
Students and unemployed people should verify programme requirements, funding information and application procedures through the relevant official institutions before taking action.
