Question NW198 to the Minister of Social Development
03 September 2019 - NW198
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
What (a) is the current total number of unemployed social work graduates nationally and (b) plans are in place to ensure that the social work graduates are employed without further delay?
Reply:
(a) The current number of unemployed social work graduates nationally is 7 583. This number is inclusive of graduates who were funded through the scholarship programme and those who paid their studies through varied other means.
(b) The department will utilize savings form the 2019 MTEF social work scholarshio training allocation to facilitate the appointment of 190 social work graduates by provincial department of social development. In addition, the department will, during the 2019/20 financial year finalise a strategy for the employment of social work graduates within the public and private sectors. This strategy will also be used to lobby the Department of Finance to allocate budget towards employment of social work graduates by various sector department.