Women are needed in the ICT sector
JOBURG – Women are urged to pursue careers in ICT after leaving school, as it is a sector where women are much needed.
While Women’s Month presents a chance to reflect and celebrate the role of women in South Africa, there needs to be an ongoing focus on empowering female entrepreneurs to drive real change in equality.
This according to Tashline Jooste, CEO of the Innovator Trust, who said female involvement in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector was a particular area in need of attention. “Let us take time this month to celebrate the achievements that women in our country have made while remembering that inclusivity in our economy is a process that needs ongoing focus.
“This is especially true in the ICT sector which has the potential to fuel economic growth and employment in South Africa, but only when the workforce is representative of the broader population.”
According to the 2016 Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) ICT Skills Survey, the skills gap in the South African ICT sector is hampering the country’s ability to compete at a level that will address the burdens of poverty and unemployment.
Furthermore, the JCSE stated that only 21 percent of respondents in their survey were women which were a concern from the perspective of South Africa’s pursuit of gender equality, especially since this figure has been largely unchanged over the past few years.
Jooste said the Innovator Trust was established to empower and upskill owners of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), particularly women and black entrepreneurs in the ICT sector.
“We believe that through innovative development programmes and mentorship we can assist in the development of SMMEs and contribute significantly to the growth of the ICT sector as a whole,” Jooste said.
Yasmitha Bhana, managing director of Nikha Consulting and a beneficiary of the Innovator Trust believes that education is key in presenting the field as a viable career path for women. “In order to increase female participation in the ICT sector, we need to encourage girls to study ICT subjects such as science and mathematics from primary school level to empower them with the skills to successfully enter this field after school,” said Bhana.
