Hon Speaker and hon members, the ANC welcomes the government's announcement to increase this year's funds allocated to further education and training, FET, college students to R2 billion, as pronounced by President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 during his visit to the Tshwane South Further Education and Training College's Odi campus in Mabopane.
The ANC views FET colleges as central to the drive to further skills development for the economy, hence it has committed itself to doing everything possible to improve the role and performance of FETs and make them centres of excellence, as well as institutions of choice for school- leavers.
Moreover, the ANC will continuously expand access to bursary and loan programmes at further education and training colleges, and will take urgent and practical steps to place education and skills development at the centre of our transformation and development agenda. Thank you.