SKILLS training projects initiated to assist in the advancement of women have not achieved their goals, a recent study on skills evolution and its effect on women has revealed.
The study, undertaken by Policy Analysis and Capacity Enhancement and the Human Sciences Research Council, found that women, particularly those from the rural areas, were still not benefiting from training programmes aimed to empower women.
Baleka Mbete, national convener of the Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa, said the organisation commissioned the study to assess the effect of the "skills revolution on South African women".
"Skills development for women is one of the five key focus areas defined in the minimum platform of action to be implemented, as mandated by the launch conference in 2006," Mbete said.
"Although a lot of studies have been undertaken on women in the workplace, the movement, through this study, sought to understand the extent to which women benefited through skills revolution as announced by the Department of Labour."
Mbete said the study concentrated on the minerals and mining, wholesale and retail, agriculture and education, training and development practices sectors and was limited to Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
It showed that skills revolution was yet to be achieved in these sectors.
"Issues of skills development has been on the government agenda since the first democratic government in 1994. Since then government has introduced a plethora of legislation and institutions dedicated to the training of South Africans. But what is often not clear is the success rate and the measurability of these training programmes on the recipients. While we appreciate government intervention we however think that there should be more gender bias towards women in State interventions.
"Some of these issues are common sense really; if women make up 51percent of the population and African women make up the bulk of the population, it stands to reason that they be the biggest beneficiaries. Data from development agencies everywhere in the world confirms what we all know - that when you educate or develop a woman more people stand to benefit.
"This point is further illustrated by comments from some of the interviewees from the study when they say that they participated in these training programmes because they wanted to take charge of their day-to-day lives," Mbete said.
She said the organisation was planning to use the study to influence government to produce more gender sensitive budgets.
"As a country we also need to start producing gender differentiated data in development projects."
Mbete said the organisation will look into recommendations made which included a nationwide study that will include all Setas and training agencies.
The study will provide a deeper understanding about development in all sectors of the economy and its effect on women.
The study also suggested that there be audits on the needs for skills among women, particularly in the rural areas as they are often marginalised.
Skills revolution remains pipe dream
SKILLS training projects initiated to assist in the advancement of women have not achieved their goals, a recent study on skills evolution and its effect on women has revealed.
The study, undertaken by Policy Analysis and Capacity Enhancement and the Human Sciences Research Council, found that women, particularly those from the rural areas, were still not benefiting from training programmes aimed to empower women.
Baleka Mbete, national convener of the Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa, said the organisation commissioned the study to assess the effect of the "skills revolution on South African women".
"Skills development for women is one of the five key focus areas defined in the minimum platform of action to be implemented, as mandated by the launch conference in 2006," Mbete said.
"Although a lot of studies have been undertaken on women in the workplace, the movement, through this study, sought to understand the extent to which women benefited through skills revolution as announced by the Department of Labour."
Mbete said the study concentrated on the minerals and mining, wholesale and retail, agriculture and education, training and development practices sectors and was limited to Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
It showed that skills revolution was yet to be achieved in these sectors.
"Issues of skills development has been on the government agenda since the first democratic government in 1994. Since then government has introduced a plethora of legislation and institutions dedicated to the training of South Africans. But what is often not clear is the success rate and the measurability of these training programmes on the recipients. While we appreciate government intervention we however think that there should be more gender bias towards women in State interventions.
"Some of these issues are common sense really; if women make up 51percent of the population and African women make up the bulk of the population, it stands to reason that they be the biggest beneficiaries. Data from development agencies everywhere in the world confirms what we all know - that when you educate or develop a woman more people stand to benefit.
"This point is further illustrated by comments from some of the interviewees from the study when they say that they participated in these training programmes because they wanted to take charge of their day-to-day lives," Mbete said.
She said the organisation was planning to use the study to influence government to produce more gender sensitive budgets.
"As a country we also need to start producing gender differentiated data in development projects."
Mbete said the organisation will look into recommendations made which included a nationwide study that will include all Setas and training agencies.
The study will provide a deeper understanding about development in all sectors of the economy and its effect on women.
The study also suggested that there be audits on the needs for skills among women, particularly in the rural areas as they are often marginalised.
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