Provincial government engages with tertiary institutions

Gauteng MEC for Finance, and former MEC for Education, Barbara Creecy attended in lieu of Premier David Makhura, who was absent due to a personal emergency.

Creecy was accompanied by the MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi.

In an effort to share the government’s long-term vision for Gauteng with representatives from research and higher learning institutions, Creecy reiterated the 10 pillar programme for the transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation of the province, which was first presented in Makhura’s State of the Province Address.

She explained that although there was no specific provincial budget allocated for higher learning institutions, the Gauteng government hoped to open engagement with tertiary entities.

“This interaction is an acknowledgement that you are important institutions [in our province]. We see you as important potential partners in [the long-term vision for the province],” said Creecy.

She said although the province had made strides in managing to meet social sector basic needs, poverty and inequality still remain a core concern.

Creecy also acknowledged that provincial government could do a lot more to improve the quality of the education system. She said Gauteng had the most well-educated population in the country, with a significant proportion of the workforce holding post-matric qualifications.

Creecy also said if the province wanted to achieve transformation of the economy, the knowledge sector and the knowledge economy was essential to that aim.

The knowledge economy is where there is a greater reliance on intellectual capabilities for the production of goods and services; where human capital fostered by knowledge and education is considered a productive asset.

Creecy indicated that institutions of higher learning were central in fostering the capacity development of the workforce which would, in turn, have an impact on the provincial economy.

In the question-and-answer session that followed, Vadi expressed what he felt was lacking from tertiary institutions in Gauteng, and said that provincial government could benefit from critical scholarship.

He stated that it seemed to him that government was not receiving significant academic critique on policy and development challenges from tertiary institutions.

Vadi also highlighted his experience as MEC for Roads and Transport, and said the availability of skilled experts in his industry was limited.

The session was concluded by Lesufi who said he was adamant to continue the provincial government’s concrete engagement with educational entities.

“We are serious about the 10 pillar programme, we believe that institutions of higher learning are [in a better] position to help us,” he said.