Learning for Life, Work and the Future Initial ... - Unesco-Unevoc

Page 20 Minister’s Opening Speech Learning for Life, Work and the Future
• Step up training in and for the informal sector;
• Prepare the teaching staff for these new challenges;
• Integrate and use of information and communication
technology in all the above areas;
and the one most urgent for the subregion:
• The need to appreciate and address the HIV/AIDS
challenge.
The expectation is that this workshop will come up
with project proposals that will consider these very
issues. To bring the right people together, the organizers
sent out a Call for Papers, the purpose being to
select persons as participants for this workshop who
not only are knowledgeable in the selected areas but
who have ideas for the way forward. Thus, Ladies and
Gentlemen, we have amongst us here today a group of
about 70 selected experts in TVET, people with a wish
to see change, improvement, development, and with
the capacity to initiate reform in Southern Africa.
12 out of the 14 SADC countries are represented.
We also have colleagues from Europe here to help us
link up with the rest of the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Government of
Botswana and on my own behalf, let me welcome you
all to our Beautiful Country and the City of Gaborone,
and to this workshop with the hope that it will meet
your expectations. You will already have discovered
that this is a workshop with a difference. The outcome
goes beyond the usual set of recommendations.
Instead you are going to produce a number of project
proposals in a format such that the projects can be
implemented as subregional projects each covering
three or more countries. Furthermore the project proposals
will be produced in a format such that they can
be considered for donor support.
On Friday this week, the last day of the workshop, the
donors have been invited to view your output! The
ideal output would be that, as a follow-up to this workshop,
every country here present would be involved in
a subregional project. I wish you all the success in this
noble task.
It is opportune for me at this moment to appreciate the
contribution of the Donor Agencies to the development
of TVET in our various countries. As developing
countries with increasing populations and meagre
resources, we have had to direct much of our resources
into basic or general education while the share for
TVET has never been enough. It is in this context that
we wish to acknowledge the financial and professional
contribution of the several Donor Agencies who have
been working, and continue to work, in the subregion.
In Botswana alone, we have benefited from the
European Union, and the Governments of Germany,
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Japan,
Britain, and the United States of the America, as well
as international organizations such as UNDP, ILO, and
UNESCO. Speaking for Botswana, I can assure you
that without this help we would not have had the
capacity and confidence to initiate a workshop of this
scope and importance.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our wish to mobilize links
between the countries in Southern Africa, coincides
with a shift in donor policy. A number of Agencies
have informed us that they are now gradually reducing
their country support, but are instead focusing on
projects that develop the subregion. We hope, therefore,
that this workshop can assist these Donor
Agencies in identifying projects that could qualify for
such support.
We are also aware of the multi-sectoral approach to the
donor support. TVET, by its nature, already has very
close links with other economic sectors and, as such,
lends itself to the multi-sectoral approach, both in
developing and implementing programmes. The
training sector must work closely with consumers of
the products: for example, the tourism sector, the
manufacturing sector, the informal sector, and so on.
Already, Ministries of Education, Labour and Commerce
together with the private sector organizations are
natural partners.
Master of Ceremonies, Distinguished Ladies and
Gentlemen, we in Southern Africa are part of the
global process. We are heading for challenges we have
not yet appreciated; challenges linked to the technology
revolution. If we want to get out of our state of
poverty, we have to harness the technology and ‘frogleap’
into the high-tech era. In this respect, we have no
choice! My quote from the meeting in Canada was
intended to emphasise just that. It is therefore most
appropriate and timely that the organizers have chosen
ICT as a key presentation for this workshop. I expect
that every group during this workshop will make sure
that the ICT component features in the solution.
It is now my pleasure to declare this workshop
officially open and to wish you all good luck in delivering
concrete outcomes in the form of feasible,
relevant and sustainable subregional projects.
Pula!