Environment sector initiatives 
 

The DEA cooperates with the Department of Education, South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in supporting continuous review of environmental curriculum linked to sector demands

To promote environmental awareness and education, the department has prioritised a school based environmental education programme as well as community based environmental awareness programme.

The department offers bursaries to previously disadvantage South African citizens; the purpose of the programme is to establish an effective system for continuous development of qualified candidates for future appointments and mobility in both the public and private sector.  The DEA programme seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Enhance youth development
• Develop a culture of high quality lifelong learning within Department of Environmental Affairs

Statutory body involvement
 

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has long recognised the importance of investing in the development of human talent, not only to support its own growth, but also that of the environment in which it operates. It is also the aim of the organisation to broaden access to education for previously disadvantaged and academically competent learners, and to contribute to South Africa’s national goals by expanding the skills base.

As part of its social investment strategy and in an endeavour to recruit and develop talented individuals, the SAWS endows bursaries to learners in order to enable the organisation to meet its growing need for skilled scientists. Bursaries are awarded to learners to qualify as weather observers, as well as for undergraduate degrees in meteorology and atmospheric science, honours degrees in meteorology and atmospheric science, and a bridging course for BSc students without a meteorology qualification.

Training interventions in which the SAWS is currently involved include weather observer training, weather observation refresher training, forecaster training, conducting an honours course in meteorology in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, a six-month bridging course in meteorology for general BSc learners who have not studied a BSc in Meteorology, as preparation for the honours degree in Meteorology, training of weather observers based on Gough Island, Marion and Prince Edward Islands and at the South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE IV) base  on Antarctica, and ad hoc training