As the national leader in the development of qualified artisans to support and grow the economy of South Africa,
the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande has agreed to host a National Artisan Development Conference on 4 and 5 July 2012. The purpose of the conference is to establish a formal, national
platform under the auspices of the Minister of Higher Education & Training that annually reviews the state of artisan
development in South Africa and allows for discussion and consultation on how to continually improve the National
Programme for Artisan Development : 7-Steps to Becoming a Qualified Artisan by clearly identifying blockages to implementing the national programme and developing solutions to removing the blockages.

The conference outcomes are:

-Social Partners commit to national artisan development in support of the National Skills Accord, NSDS III and all other national strategies that relate to artisan development;
-The process for improving the status and profile of an Artisan as an inspirational career pathway for South Africans but in particular the Youth is developed and agreed upon.
-All role players in the country participate in national artisan development through
submission of written questions and comments and receive a response through a
formal post conference report.

All Members of the public are invited to submit to the Minister any questions, suggestions, proposals on national
artisan development for discussion at the conference. Post the conference the Minister will issue an official
publication in the form of a report back to the nation on the outcomes of the conference. All Submissions must be
submitted to by 27th June 2012. nadconference@dhet.gov.za

Page Created: Thursday, June 14, 2012