Speaker, the ANC recognises the important role that social workers play in our communities and welcomes the setting aside of R256 million by the Department of Social Development for the next financial year for a scholarship programme to train more social workers. Social workers provide direct services and work to promote social and economic justice.
The shortage of social workers remains a major concern for the government. There are also plans to request assistance from retired social workers, in particular their input in training youth in the field of social work and mentoring the current generation of social workers.
The department has also undertaken to train 10 000 child-care and youth- care workers in the next three years with assisting as many child-headed homes as possible as their key aim. There are estimates that the country needs 55 000 educated social workers, and it is important to begin encouraging high-school learners to apply for scholarship programmes in order to address these shortages.
The ANC welcomes this initiative and believes that it will go a long way towards addressing the social challenges facing our communities. [Applause.]