Committee’s concerns over DHET’s strategic plan
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has expressed some concerns following the tabling of a five-year Strategic Plan and the Annual Performance Plan (APP) of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
These concerns include the department’s high vacancy rate in senior management and lack of timeframes for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) forensic investigation. The Committee has further urged the department to speed up the process of setting up a monitoring and evaluation unit.
At a meeting attended by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mr Mduduzi Manana, the Director-General Mr Gwebinkundla Qonde and the department’s senior management team, a presentation by DHET indicated that there was a total budget of R41.8 billion, which excludes direct charges, for the 2015/16 financial year.
The department has identified five strategic goals for the 2015-2020 period. These include the provision of a sound Post-School Education and Training legislative framework, provision of Post-School Education and Training services, provision of Post-School Education and Training capacity, facilitation of a strong stakeholder network; and ensuring continuous business excellence within the department.
Committee Chairperson Mrs Yvonne Phosa outlined a few areas of concern over both the Department’s Strategic Plan and APP. “The plan is aligned with the Minister’s vision, the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training and the National Development Plan. All that is needed now is successful implementation.
“The reality is that for the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan and the APP, the department has to fill the crucial funded posts that are currently vacant. Another gap that we have identified is on the NSFAS investigation. Any plan must have clear timelines and there was no such indicated on the investigation,” said Mrs Phosa.
Mrs Phosa added that, with the department’s huge mandate covering 26 universities, 50 technical and vocational education and training colleges and 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), it was important for a monitoring and evaluation unit to be established.
Click here to view a presentation that provides further details on the department’s Strategic Plan and APP.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Elijah Moholola
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 2311
Cell: 081 509 1889
E-mail: emoholola@parliament.gov.za
