Minister Nzimande to host the roundtable on Youth Health and Wellness in the Post School Education and Training Sector

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande invites members of the media to a roundtable on youth health and wellness in the post school education and training sector.

The roundtable will be held under the theme: “Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”

The aims to affect a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to improving the mental health status of women in the PSET sector.

The lifetime risk of experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) is 45.6% for South African women; well above the global average of 35% (WHO). Sexual gender-based violence, and intimate partner violence are amongst the most prevalent forms of GBV young women aged 16-25 years are especially vulnerable towards (UNICEF).

The post-school education and training sector (PSET) is home to over 2,5 million youth, where more than 51% of these are adolescent girls & young women between the ages of 15 – 24 years old. With statistics indicating that 10% of all reported rape cases comes from the higher education sector (MRC) woman students fall squarely into this high-risk demographic and sexual assault and violence against women on campuses is a major concern.

The PSET sector is a microcosm of society, reflecting the pertinent societal issues that we as a country are faced with. The same sector also has high incidence of mental ill-health because of gender disadvantage, poverty, health crises, economic inequalities, gender violence, HIV and alcohol and substance abuse.

The roundtable will take place as follows:

Date: Monday, 22 August 2022

Venue: Constitutional Hill (Johannesburg)

Time: 9h30

The roundtable will:

1. Amplify the voices and priorities of women in institutions of higher learning

2. Engage men, young boys and challenge masculinities in the PSET sector

3. Provide participants a unique opportunity to learn from first-hand experience and recommendations from the affected parties

4. Draw attention to the critical challenges to preventing and responding to GBV, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse in institutions of higher learning

5. Advocate for solidarity around the rights of women and the fight against gender-based violence

6. Need for CIVIC EDUCATION in our society in order to challenge toxic social norms

7. Protocols and minimum standards as part of the Higher Education GBV Framework 2020, on managing cases of sexual violence on campuses

8. See government actors commit to strengthen the prevention, risk and response to GBV, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse.

Source: Government of South Africa