In 2008, Department of Labour figures reflected an increase in the number of artisans in training.
The 2007/08 service-level agreements (SLAs) signed between the various sector education and training
authorities (Setas) and the Department of Labour reflected a total of 18 879 artisans to be registered.
By mid-2008, provisional Seta SLAs indicated that an additional 20 000 learners were registered for 2008/09.
The Department of Education forecasted that the number of engineers graduating from universities would
increase from about 1 500 per year to 2 000 per year by 2010. Various initiatives to increase access of
young people to high-quality education and skills acquisition are in place, such as teacher training for
Mathematics, Science, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and language competence. One of the key
initiatives is the transformation of further education and training (FET) colleges, by making them centres of
the skills revolution offering outcome-based training. The participation of youth in urban, rural and farm
areas is enhanced by the bursary scheme of R600 million over a three-year period to enable young people to
access training opportunities at FET colleges. Skills relevant to the local economic development needs of
municipalities, especially developmental economists are also addressed.
