When posting please remember that you are wanting to create a business relationship - whether a contract or work relationship. Use your post to present a professional image of yourself & if relevant, your organisation. In addition to what you are looking for, provide your name, title, and contact details.
One of the most defining moments in any child or young person's life is the death of a parent. Suddenly, no matter at whatever age - they need to take a new responsibility - a realisation that they are the next generation. A time to stop childish squabbling with each other and assume responsibility.
South Africans have been living on the legacy of Madiba. It's surely time to stop the squabbling and focus on national issues of poverty and unemployment, and the provision of our Constitutional rights to education, health, and housing.
How many South Africans are still haggling over who is responsible for our history - rather than focusing on what they can do today - to improve our collective future.
In the workplace - as Cyril Ramaphosa has pointed out - there are two parties in an industrial relationship. Employers need to question whether by their behaviour and policies they have pushed employees to a situation where they believe that the only recourse is violent demonstration. This is not to condone the violence but to suggest the disadvantage of an overly legalistic, antagonistic - rather than a constructive problem-solving approach.
In response of course many will direct Ramaphosa to review his own political house - Madiba's leadership lessons are clearly not being applied - self enrichment and aggrandisment are definitely not part of his legacy . Corruption of course also requires two parties - and here the public service officials need to stand up.
Educators have a responsibility to inspire youth and to provide a role model - late-coming, persistent absence and a slapdash approach are no examples in preparing youth for the world of work. Equally, are parents taking enough time and trouble to make a contribution to their school management - rather to expect everything to simply happen?
Youth in their desire for qualifications as the means to a brighter future are at the mercy of unscrupulous ETD providers - whether companies or individual trainers - or any of the related ETD disciplines such as material development, assessment, moderation. Have professional associations done enough to support their members towards compliance - but also to focus attention on providers who by their non-compliant practices undermine the profession?
Of course one cannot mention ETD without bringing in the bureaucracies of SETAs, the QCTO and SAQA. The words customer service immediately spring to mind - because of its absence, not practice. Sometimes practitioners wonder whether the bureaucrats really do understand the realities and practicalities of skills development at the workplace.
Currently, the majority of South African youth under 25 are unemployed, or underemployed. (This is not only an SA problem - youth unemployment is an international problem.) But in SA employers regularly point out that the youth are not "work-ready", do not have a work ethic, and are not able to do simple calculations or write a coherent sentence.
We are in youth month - and are approaching Mandela Day in July. But we are also focused on the current hospitalisation of Madiba and praying for his recovery. So this is an appropriate time for us to reflect upon his contribution and consider whether we're really making the full and best contribution that we could individually make to develop our country - and honour his contribution to our national identity.
