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Memorandum from the Parliamentary Office
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2102
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 24/10/2014
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 21 OF 2014)
Prof B Bozzoli (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training:
1) What was the purpose of his recent visit to China;
2) (a) who accompanied him, (b) what position did each person who
accompanied him hold and (c) what was the reason why each person
accompanied him;
3) what was the (a) total cost of the trip and (b) breakdown of the costs;
4) what (a) was the (i) class and (ii) cost of each personâs flight, (b)
were the (i) details and (ii) costs of the accommodation and (c) amount
was provided (i) in total and (ii) for each day for daily allowances and
stipends;
5) what was his full itinerary for the trip, including in each case, (a)
with whom he had the meeting, (b) where was the meeting, (c) what was
the reason for the meeting and (d) what was the outcome?
NW2570E
REPLY
1) The purpose of my visit to China was to participate in the World
Economic Forum (WEF), which took place in Tianjin, China from 9 - 12
September 2014. I was requested by the WEF organizers to chair a
working session titled âSkilling STEMâsâ (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics) on Thursday,
11 September 2014. I also requested to meet my Chinese counterpart on
15 September 2014.
2) The following officials accompanied me:
|(a) Name of |(b) Position |(c) |
|official | |Reason/Responsibility |
|Dr John Pampallis |Special Advisor |Support and give advice|
|Mr Ghaleeb Jeppie |Chief Director: |Logistics, protocol |
| |International |assistance and |
| |Relations |compilation of reports |
|Mr Khaye Nkwanyana|Media Liaison Officer |Media related support |
|Ms Mmathapelo Sako|Personal Assistant |Secretarial and |
| | |personal assistance |
3) (a) The estimated total cost of the visit was R295 652.92.
Accommodation and ground transport is based on a quotation received
from the South African mission of Tianjin and not the actual
expenditure. These invoices still need to be processed.
(b) The breakdown cost is as follows:
⢠flights were R161 485.00;
⢠accommodation was R49 490.95;
⢠ground transport was R34 892.97;
⢠daily allowance was R49 684.00 in total for the delegation; and
⢠an estimated amount of R500.00 of tips for drivers and porters.
4) (a) Mr Pampallis and I travelled in business class at a cost of
R39Â 377.00 per return
ticket while the rest of the delegation travelled in economy
class at a cost of
R27Â 577.00 per ticket.
(b) I utilised an executive suite of R2 492.35 for 7 days and the
rest of the delegation
utilised standard rooms of R1 068.15 for 7 days whilst Mr Jeppie
stayed for 9 days as he left two days in advance to arrange the
necessary protocols and logistics. Accommodation costs amounted to
R49Â 490.95
(c) The daily allowance for each delegate was R1 182.95Â per day and
amounted to R49 684.00.
5) My full itinerary for the trip is tabulated below:
|Date |Attendees of meeting|Venue of the meeting|Reason |Outcome |
|10 September |CNBC Africa and |Convention and |Interviews |I indicated that the country |
|2014 |China Radio |Exhibition Centre | |was going to achieve the |
| | | | |Millennium Development Goals, |
| | | | |in education by the 2015 |
| | | | |deadline, and that over the |
| | | | |past twenty years higher |
| | | | |education in South Africa has |
| | | | |expanded significantly as the |
| | | | |country now has a large number |
| | | | |of blacks and women in the |
| | | | |higher education sector. |
|11 September |WEF organisers |Convention and |Working session on|I was briefed on how to manage |
|2014 | |Exhibition Centre |Skilling STEMâs to|the session. |
| | | |ensure that the | |
| | | |session I was | |
| | | |chairing goes | |
| | | |according to plan | |
|11 September |STEMâs delegation |Convention and |Facilitated a |Delegates agreed that one of |
|2014 | |Exhibition Centre |session on STEMâs |the difficulties faced by |
| | | |Skills |countries is that they lack |
| | | | |adequately trained educators |
| | | | |for STEM in both quantity and |
| | | | |quality. There is a need to |
| | | | |expand teacher training and |
| | | | |overcome the biasness against |
| | | | |teaching as a profession as |
| | | | |opposed to a job in the private|
| | | | |sector. |
| | | | |I informed the delegates that |
| | | | |South Africa has adopted a |
| | | | |National Development Plan and |
| | | | |various growth strategies to |
| | | | |enable the economy to sustain |
| | | | |progress over the next 20 |
| | | | |years. It also provides targets|
| | | | |for increasing the number of |
| | | | |students eligible to study |
| | | | |mathematics and science |
| | | | |degrees. Dedicated mathematics |
| | | | |and science schools in rural |
| | | | |areas were established and the |
| | | | |country. |
| | | | |It was agreed that Governments |
| | | | |must create an investment |
| | | | |climate that encourages the |
| | | | |private sector to compete |
| | | | |locally and internationally |
| | | | |with innovative products, |
| | | | |services and technologies. More|
| | | | |private sector money is needed.|
| | | | |The African Union and the |
| | | | |African diaspora should also be|
| | | | |brought on board to address |
| | | | |these problems. |
| | | | |I emphasized that STEM skills |
| | | | |may mean a decline in the |
| | | | |humanities, which would be |
| | | | |unfortunate since scientists |
| | | | |need some training in |
| | | | |humanities and humanities |
| | | | |students need some science. |
| | | | |Participants also noted that |
| | | | |the âOne Laptop per Childâ |
| | | | |initiative together with |
| | | | |Internet access could provide |
| | | | |access to STEMâs. ICTâs |
| | | | |provides the greatest |
| | | | |opportunities for STEMâs |
| | | | |education in Africa. |
|11 September |Fellow delegates |Meijiang Convention |Participated in a |Delegates agreed that there is |
|2014 | |and Exhibition |Working Session |a need for more skilled workers|
| | |Centre |entitled: âThe |in the developing world. Skills|
| | | |Future of Jobsâ |development creates employment |
| | | | |and reduces poverty and that |
| | | | |the increasing levels of |
| | | | |competitiveness is the most |
| | | | |crucial reason for justifying |
| | | | |investments in skills. |
| | | | |It was noted that a major |
| | | | |challenge for employers is |
| | | | |finding employees with the |
| | | | |requisite skills. There is a |
| | | | |skills mismatch, unemployment |
| | | | |is high, yet many positions |
| | | | |remain unfilled. |
| | | | |I indicated that the Department|
| | | | |of Higher Education and |
| | | | |Training envisages a research |
| | | | |and innovation system in which |
| | | | |universities, science councils,|
| | | | |government departments, |
| | | | |non-governmental organisations |
| | | | |and private sector play a role |
| | | | |in improving South Africaâs |
| | | | |global competitiveness. |
|12 September |Fellow delegates |Meijiang Convention |Participated in a |I indicated during the session |
|2014 | |and Exhibition |Working Session |that it was important to |
| | |Centre |entitled |understand the historical |
| | | |âReflection on |context and that of apartheid |
| | | |past âThe |policies, which denied black |
| | | |Challenge: |pupils opportunities in |
| | | |Rethinking |mathematics and science |
| | | |Education |subjects. This was the major |
| | | | |cause of the backlogs that the |
| | | | |country today is confronted |
| | | | |with. I concluded by noting |
| | | | |that much progress has also |
| | | | |been made and that the country |
| | | | |has dedicated mathematics and |
| | | | |science schools and stressed |
| | | | |that the academic disciplines |
| | | | |of science, technology, |
| | | | |engineering, and mathematics |
| | | | |are the number one priority in |
| | | | |the country. |
The World Economic Forum and its side events is a global event with
considerable international media coverage. It was an opportunity for South
Africa to highlight its efforts in skills development and providing a
conducive environment for foreign investment in South Africa.
I had requested to meet with my Chinese counterpart on 15 September 2014
before departing from China with the intention to discuss the BRICS
University League and extend an invitation to officials dealing with
university infrastructure in the Chinese Ministry of Higher Education to
participate in the conference on university infrastructure scheduled for 26
- 27 November 2014 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I was informed, while in
Beijing, that my counterpart would not be available to meet with me, but he
availed senior officials for the meeting. Mr Jeppie, the Chief Director for
International Relations met with the Chinese senior officials and conveyed
my message.
Compiler/contact persons: Mr G Jeppie
Ext: 5346
DIRECTOR â GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
REPLY TO QUESTION 2102 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr B NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE: