Speech by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, in welcoming newly appointed College Councils for Community Colleges at the Premier Hotel, OR Tambo International
Programme Director
Director-General, Mr Gwebinkundla Qonde
Honourable Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Training, Mr Mduduzi Manana
DHET Officials
Regional Managers present here today
Acting Principals for Community Colleges
Newly appointed Community College Councils
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning.
It gives me great pleasure to officially welcome the newly appointed Community College council members on this auspicious occasion.
In April 2011 I appointed a Task Team on Community Education and Training Centres to investigate and recommend a distinct, unique and more effective alternative institutional form to address the education and training needs of adults and out-of-school youth. The motivation was to conceptualise a workable institutional model for community education and training centres.
In creating a distinct identity the following factors had to be considered, namely: the ethos and mission of the institution, the diversity of programme offerings, strong articulation with existing institutions, service to the community, business and industry; and life-long learning opportunities.
The task team proposed Community Learning Centres and Community Colleges as the institutional type to address the needs of adults and out-of-school youth for literacy, basic and secondary education, vocational and occupational programmes. It recommended that Community Learning Centres be nationally coordinated and linked to a nearby Community College. The ideal was that the model of Community Learning Centres and Community Colleges should build on the experience of the Public Adult Learning Centres.
With effect from 1 April 2015, the Community Education and Training function became the exclusive responsibility of my department. I subsequently published the establishment of nine community education and training colleges in a Government Gazette dated 7 November 2014.
As a result the 3 276 Community Learning Centres – formerly known as Public Adult Centres – were merged under the nine Community Colleges established. The functionality of Community Colleges is entirely dependent on the appointment of College Councils.
Today’s inauguration of College Councils is not only a historical event, but a sign of commitment of my department to transform this historically neglected sector. This commitment is supported by the appointment of a cadre of council members with requisite expertise, experience and insight. Councils are tasked with providing good governance and oversight to ensure that the activities of college management culminate in the attainment of our strategic goals and objectives contained in the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training.
The key thrusts that drive the Post-School Education and Training are promoting access, expansion, transformation and diversified provision. This implies visionary and entrepreneurial leadership to identify key business processes for the college. This will be done through establishing partnerships with the respective provincial socio-economic strategies, in order to promote the key thrusts in Post-School Education and Training policy.
The approved National Policy on Community Colleges identifies key areas for operational framework for these institutions. The monitoring and evaluation framework will ensure that we not only count heads of enrolled students, but can measure also the impact of these institutions in promoting social cohesion and access to employment or self-employment, including further learning opportunities.
The key priorities in this sector are the expansion of educational opportunities, including offering the necessary support for people with disabilities, and diversification of programmes. The envisaged Central Application Service will ensure that numbers enrolled in the sector are verified, which will significantly improve our planning system.
The Council of a Community College is expected to perform all functions – including the development of a college statute – that are necessary to govern the institution, subject to provisions of the Act and any applicable national or provincial law.
The council is expected also to develop the strategic plan for the community college which must incorporate the mission, vision, goals and planning for funding of the community college, address past imbalances, gender and disability, safety measures for a safe learning environment for students, lectures and support staff, and determine the language policy of the community college, subject to my approval.
Furthermore, the College Council is expected to ensure that the community college complies with the accreditation requirements necessary to provide learning programmes in terms of standards and qualifications as registered in the National Qualifications Framework; and must provide for a suitable structure to advise on policy for the student support services within the institution.
As council members, you are expected to ensure that the functions of the council are performed according to the highest professional standards, and must be appreciative of the role of Community Colleges in the overall reconstruction and development programme.
In conclusion, allow me to take this opportunity to thank you all for your generosity in accepting your nomination as council members. I feel very humbled by this gesture. I have all the confidence in you, that you will do your best to overcome all the challenges you are faced with in this enormous task. My best wishes for your dedicated service as College Councilors for the next five years.
I thank you.
