13 February 2007
Further Education and Training (FET) student bursaries
The FET colleges have taken a central place in the skills development
terrain. The colleges are now semi-autonomous at the same time as substantial
resources are being provided for the recapitalisation of the institutions and
the development of teaching staff. Most of the recapitalisation funds have been
committed, and the remaining funds for 2007 will be used to enhance Information
and Communication Technologies (ICT) connectivity in the Eastern Cape and
Limpopo colleges.
In addition, bursaries have now been provided to over 20 000 students
studying in the fields of scarce skills: engineering, construction, ICTs,
business studies, hospitality and so on. They will study in-depth courses,
which have been developed together with the relevant industry players, and will
emerge ready and able to take up employment in the sector.
About 22 000 students have registered for FET college programmes, leading to
a National Certificate (vocational), and the areas of ICT and Construction are
over-subscribed at present.
Top 100 schools
We are establishing a "Top 100" club of schools. In order to qualify schools
will need to have passed at least 100 learners in Maths. The first membership
certificates for the "100 Club" will he given to 14 schools at the Most
Improved School Awards in March this year.
Higher Education
While universities overall begin to engage with a re-alignment of the sector
towards the social and economic needs of the country, targeted funding has been
provided to some institutions. In 2006, some R48 million was distributed to
four successful Faculties of Engineering as an encouragement to do more in this
regard.
National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
On the matter of the NQF, it is our desire to conclude the lengthy review
process as soon as possible. I am pleased to report that finality has been
reached on almost every aspect of the review process, and remaining issues will
be submitted to Cabinet shortly for a final decision.
National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS)
The second phase of the National Skills Development Strategy 2005�2010 will
be coming to an end on 31 March 2007. Good results continue to be achieved in
the numbers of learners being registered in a variety of learning programmes
linked to the national scarce and critical skills list and Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) projects.
Since 2001 when the first phase of the NSDS 2001 -2005 was launched until
the end of September 2006, a total of 325 247 learners have been registered on
accredited occupational based learning programmes. From April 2005 to December
2006 another 10 915 apprenticeships were registered. Therefore, on the
assumption that a genuine artisan is only developed through the apprenticeship
learning pathway only, an assumption that can be challenged, it means that
since 200l we have registered 47 618 artisans to end of December 2006.
National Certificate Vocational
We must not forget that as the National Certificate: Vocational is rolled
out by the FET colleges, even more learners are going to need workplaces to
complete their learning in the workplace before becoming artisans. FET colleges
are looking at enrolling 400 000 learners per year, at least half of whom will
probably be in trade related fields. We will need 200 000 work places per year
to accommodate such learners.
Sport and recreation
The skills development in sports and recreation was developed by the
National Sports Council (NSC), in conjunction with sport authorities and
specialists from Australia, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States of
America (USA). To ensure continuity of this noble cause, and also in compliance
with the National Skills Act and recently, in compliance with the requirements
of AsgiSA, the new structure of Sports and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) made
provision for an Education and Training sub-directorate. This sub-directorate
co-ordinates the skills development initiatives of the department.
The training programmes that the Department is involved in include the
following:
* Skills Programme for Sport and Recreation Leaders, which was awarded full
accreditation in 2006. This course is at NQF level 4.
* Skills Programme for Generic Sports Coaching, which was awarded full
accreditation in December 2006. This course is at NQF level 5.
* Skills Programmes for Sport and Recreation Managers with specialisation in
Facility Management, Event Management and Team Management are being developed.
This course will he pitched at NQF level 5.
* Facilitation Skills in Sport and Recreation [aligned with Education Training
and Development Practices (ETDP) Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA)
unit standard] is in the final testing process.
* Non-credit bearing training (covering Indigenous Games Leader; Generic Life
Skills for Athletes, which is still at draft phase; Volunteer training - for
National and International Events; as well as Financial Management for National
Federations, Training on corporate governance in sport is also earmarked for
inclusion as part of National Federations training).
* The long-term plan for the Department is to align these non-credit bearing
training programmes as "building blocks" of appropriate qualifications.
Issued by: Ministry of Education
12 February 2007
