I agree with what Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said about ensuring that skills must be used before they are forgotten.

I agree with what Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said about ensuring that skills must be used before they are forgotten.

But I am also worried about the number of our young people who, having completed their tertiary education, stay at home.

Some of them end up working in restaurants and shops, while others do things that are totally irrelevant to what they studied.

Having qualified at a university, college or technikon and being armed with a degree, diploma or national certificate does not guarantee employment anymore. One of the major problems is not having experience.

I don't understand why the business world advertises posts and requires a degree plus 10 years experience. Where must young people get that kind of experience?

The government, with the private sector, should join forces in developing employment assistance programmes so that the knowledge gained does not go to waste.

I hope that recognising FET colleges will arm students with meaningful qualifications that will reduce unemployment.

Michael Sadiki, Pretoria