NORTH WEST Premier Thandi Modise has added her voice to the call for the appointment of a female chief justice to succeed Sandile Ngcobo.

"I have no doubt that our judges are well-trained and competent people. What I think is fair to raise as a concern is that while the Constitutional Court and high courts have the best minds in our country serving on them, the lower courts are still a nightmare," she said.

Modise was addressing a conference for international association of women judges over the weekend.

She said there should be more effort to ensure that women and girl children graduate with either a university qualification or a technical diploma.

Sharing some ideas on the theme of gender equity with an emphasis on education and training, Modise said the government needs to look at the position of women in the country, saying higher unemployment exists among women with 37percent of them being unemployed.

Modise urged women to focus on the education system to recognise the skills needed for women rather than patting themselves on the back for the few who are fortunate enough to have a university education.

"We know we need to educate and train people, but women deserve better," she said.

Modise said women have to rise to the moment now and become obsessed with education and training to ensure that the country's citizens are able to have an economic life and economic freedom.

She also said women need to provide learning options to meet the demands of those who cannot meet university entrance requirements.