7 Sector Education and Training Authorities’ briefings: Updated Programmes
NCOP Public Enterprises and Communication
05 September 2006
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Meeting report
LABOUR AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES SELECT COMMITTEE
5 September 2006
7 SECTOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING AUTHORITIES’ BRIEFINGS: UPDATED PROGRAMMES
Chairperson: Ms M Themba (ANC)
Documents handed out:
Department of Labour:
SETA Provincial Linkages Overview of 2005 – 2006 Status
Health and Welfare
Sector Education and Training Authority presentation
Safety and Security
Sector Education and Training Authority presentation
Safety and
Security Sector Education and Training Authority Annual Report 2005/06
Local Government
Sector Education Training Authority presentation
Construction Education
and Training Authority presentation
Education, Training
and Development Practices Sector Education Training Authority presentation
Energy Sector Education
and Training Authority presentation
Information Systems,
Electronics and Telecommunication Technologies Sector Education and Training
Authority presentation
SUMMARY
A briefing was received from the Department of Labour’s co ordinator of
Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). Thereafter the seven SETAs
listed above presented their progress reports and updated programmes.
Questions were raised by Members on each presentation. Common concerns related
to the publicising of the programmes to matriculants, the placements of
graduates, and the steps that were being taken to address poverty through the
programmes and placements. It was clear that often SETAs were hampered by lack
of proper reporting and co operation from municipal and other officers.
Employment equity, steps to redress gender imbalances, and specific programmes
for youth and women were named as important areas. There was also a need for
all SETAs to address scarce and critical skills.
The Chairperson advised that all SETAs should endeavor to use the premier’s
office to assist with information dissemination. She also urged that SETAs
should take a cue from the State of the Nation Address of the President while
co-coordinating their projects. All SETAs should also be aware that one of
their primary aims was to address poverty.
MINUTES
SETA Provincial Linkages Overview: Briefing by Department of Labour
Dr Florus Prinsloo (Acting Senior Executive Manger, SETA coordination,
Department of Labour) introduced the model that was used to monitor Sector
Education Training Authorities (SETAs) in the provinces. He explained at the
outset that Provincial Skills Development Forums were referred to as PSDF and the
second acronym PGDS meant Provincial Growth Development Strategy. SETAs had 71%
coverage in the country. Some SETAs were not represented in some provinces
because the training was not relevant; for instance the Mining SETA would be
confined to mining areas.
Presentation by Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA)
Mrs D (Thea).Cronje (Acting Chief Executive Officer, HWSETA) submitted a
progress report on the training, giving statistics of training of Skills
Development Facilitators, numbers of grants, workers assisted to enter
programmes, skills development support, institutes recognized and number of
unemployed people entering programmes. She reported that offices had been
opened in Cape Town and KwaZulu Natal. Tables were presented of provincial
workshops, learnerships per province, learnerships per equity and special
projects per province. Future plans included inviting colleges to apply for
recognition as Institutes of Sectoral or Occupational excellence, encouraging
Further Education and Training Colleges (FETs) to offer SETA qualifications and
to apply for accreditation. Workshops would be conducted in provinces that did
not partake of learnerships. New qualifications were being researched.
Consultations would take place with Directors General of Health to initiate
project plans.
Ms Cronje stated that not all provinces participated actively in the
learnership programmes. Mpumalanga had a participation of 3%, the Northern Cape
1.15% and Limpopo 2%.
Major challenges facing the SETA were under-funding, the demarcation of SETA, and the unrealistic expectations of
stakeholders.
Of the total 3,930 learners registered, 94% were employment equity candidates.
Of R14.7m that was received in levies, R11.35m was distributed in grants.
Discussion n
Ms N Ntwanambi (ANC, Western Cape) asked HWSETA of the link between
staff skills and the hospitals in rural areas. She also enquired what was being
done about matriculants, and if any communications were addressed to schools.
Mrs Cronje replied that HWSETA would participate in career fairs to reach
matriculants.
Mr D Gamede (ANC, KwaZulu Natal) queried why the employment equity rate did not
indicate people with disabilities.
Mrs Cronje said the disability figures were an omission
Mr Gamede expressed his disappointment that HWSETA could have made such
omission..
Mr Gamede enquired how the lack of offices in provinces and the staging of
workshops were being reconciled.
Ms Cronje clarified that the HWSETA was busy trying to establish if the current
offices were doing the work that was supposed to be covered before more offices
were set up.
Mr N Hendricks (ANC, Western Cape) asked if the learnership equity tabled was
split between whites and blacks, or if the black ratio covered all non-whites.
She stated that the black figure in the equity data covered all non-whites.
Mr Hendricks also enquired what action was being taken on the shortage of
nurses in the country.
Mrs Cronje stated that HWSETA was in the process of doing a full skills sector
plan that would address the shortage of 20 000 nurses in the country. She said
that there was a process of enrolling nurses and if a learner had been
registered as an auxiliary nurse, through a bridging course, he or she could be
enrolled.
Mrs Cronje added that HWSETA often found the lack of participation of some
stakeholders to be challenging.
Mrs S Mabe (ANC, Free State) commented that if certain municipal officials did
not respond to invitations, she would like a list specifying which officials
and provinces were referred to so that appropriate action could be taken.
Presentation by Safety and Security SETA (SASSETA)
Ms Vuyelwa Penxa (Chief Executive Officer, SASSETA) stated that SASSETA was
established through the amalgamation of two SETAS, and had only been in
existence for nine months. She outlined the achievements and marketing that it
had done in that time. The objectives were prioritizing and communicating
critical skills for growth, development and equity, promotion and accelerating
quality training in the workplace, promoting employability through skills
development, and assisting designated groups to participate in accredited work.
Schedules of targets and performance under each objective were tabled. A full
progress report on training providers, and comparative graphs for each
province, was tabled. More than 14 000 learners had been through the system
since 2002 and over 6 000 learners were enrolled in 2005/6. No agreements
currently existed with any of the FET Colleges, because its industries were
service related. However, it was in the process of developing more technically
oriented learnerships. The SASSETA was involved in community work, including an
HIV/Aids research project, rural development, and training for people with
disabilities.
A number of challenges were faced by SASSETA. Accurate reporting had been a
problem. Although it had a well established and functioning database the system
had not been used consistently in the past. All contracts with training
providers were being revised to ensure that reporting obligations were clearly
set out. The sector had limited data in terms of scarce skills. Funding
remained a problem, especially where government departments were concerned.
SASSETA was predominantly dominated by males. Feasibility studies were being
conducted so that SASSETA would be able to assess where its main areas of focus
should be.
Discussion
Ms S Mabe enquired how SASSETA was going to balance gender in its division.
The Chairperson enquired what mechanism was used to attract women into the
sector, since it was male-dominated.
Ms Penxa stated that the list SASSETA received from government departments was
already male dominated. She said, however, that SASSETA was using its small
capacity to try to influence the change.
In answer to a general question raised earlier by Ms N Ntwanambi, Ms Penxa
stated that after training, job placements were guaranteed.
Ms Penxa also replied to earlier questions raised by Members on critical and
scarce skills. There was a problem in that their service providers did not
supply enough information but plans were being made to change the providers.
She also responded to an earlier general enquiry on matriculants. She stated
that each government department under SASSETA had a career management unit to
market its programmes and the marketing would address matriculants.
Ms P Hollander (ANC, Northern Cape) was concerned with the low figures in the
Northern Cape and wanted to know what criteria was being used to place officers
in the Northern Cape.
Ms Pretty Shuping (Chairperson, SASSETA) stated that priority had always been
focused on the Northern Cape.
The Chairperson wanted clarity on how SASSETA collaborated with the MEC. She
also asked which specific areas SASSETA had meant when referring to rural
areas.
Ms Shuping stated that the most feasible way of working with MECs was through
the Imbizos. She also stated that the departments outsourced workshop
organisation as they did not see this as their core function.
The chairperson commented that SASSETA should be doing work on violence against
women, and commented that HIV/AIDS was being addressed.
The point was taken by SASETA
Presentation by Local Government SETA (LGSETA)
Mr Sidwell Mofokeng (Chief Executive Officer, LGSETA) tabled a progress
report of the objectives, targets and achievements for the five years 2005-2010
and the current years 2005-6. Most of the targets were exceeded. He stated that
only six offices represented the nine provinces but acknowledged that the
capacity of these offices must be developed. Tables were presented showing the
breakdown of learners by province. 80% of the learners trained by them were
absorbed as public servants.
Future plans for the LGSETA were to give continuous support to FET Colleges
through the establishment of a joint forum, to strengthen the PSD Forum, to
increase the rollout of learnerships in the different areas for the unemployed
and to embark on venture creation. It would work with the office of the Premier
and give quarterly reports to the Portfolio Committee of Local Government and
Traditional Affairs. Provincial workshops would be held. Employing more staff
would enhance provincial office capacity and the roles between the national and
provincial offices would be clarified.
Discussion
Ms N Ntwanambi (ANC, Western Cape) directed a general question to all
SETAs enquiring about the recruitment processes after all the learners had been
trained.
Mr D Gamede enquired how SETA worked with municipal managers.
Mr Mofokeng replied that a pilot project for the training of municipal managers
was to start in November.
The Chairperson enquired how the local governments planned on working with the
premier of provinces.
Mr Mofokeng indicated that in areas where SETA has no authority, persuasive
mechanisms were used. He stated that the reason why LGSETA wanted to
communicate with the premiers was to eliminate duplication of projects.
Mr Gamede also requested clarity on critical and scarce skills.
Mr Mofokeng stated that a base line orientation was being used on critical and
scarce skills.
Ms J Terblanche (DA, North West) asked how LGSETA could exceed their targets
when there was an existing budget.
Mrs Janet Davies (Sector Skills Planning, LGSETA) stated that there was a
misconception that municipalities were poor. She stated that there was a high
participation rate in skills development and a lot of training funds were able
to be circulated in the sector.
Mr D Mkono (ANC, Eastern Cape) commented that local governments to intensify
their campaigns on skills development.
The Chairperson also advised that all SETAs should endeavor to use the
premier’s office in information dissemination. She also urged that SETAs should
take a cue from the State of the Nation Address of the President while
co-coordinating their projects.
Presentation by Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA)
Mr Teboho Thejane (CEO, CETA) tabled a comparison of targets, and
achievements for the 2005/6 year. He reported that 2600 learners had been
supported in learnership agreements, and 2 200 in skills programmes. 1 134 had
received bursaries. 1 391 had been registered on a basic literacy level. 991
learners were supported in the Expanded Public Works (EPWP) programme. 43
students had received bursaries in internship placements. He gave a breakdown
on unemployed learners, and another on the number of FET Colleges accredited.
Future plans for the organisation included alignment of learnerships with the
FET curriculum. Workplace experience placement was to be encouraged. Women and
youth should be encouraged to become entrepreneurs. Provincial targets would be
set on scarce and critical skills.
Challenges included the fact that rural provinces were dominated by low level
courses and the reduced cash flow in the sector due to the reduced number of levy
payers.
Discussion
Hon Gamede wanted to know how the construction SETA was making its presence
felt in rural provinces.
He also wanted to know what was being done on the construction of massive
infrastructure in preparation for the world cup in 2010.
Mr Thejane answered that CETA was working on the massive infrastructure for
2010 but he had no clear cut response to the question.
Presentation by Education, Training and Development Practices Sector
Education Training Authority (ETDP SETA)
Ms Nombulelo Nxesi (CEO, ETDP SETA) presented the progress report on the
national targets, mentioning that there had been overachievement in most, but
underachievement in two areas. This SETA had opened three provincial offices in
KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and Eastern Cape. 85 bursaries had been awarded during
the official launches. There had been a provincial meeting in the Eastern Cape.
National wide workshops involving 1 443 participants had been held. Six new
qualifications were allocated to the SETA.
A table of skills programmes was presented, together with a progress report, by
province, on the learnerships.
This SETA participated in the Provincial Forum. There were minimal linkages
currently with the provincial skills development priorities. Unaccredited providers
were ebing used for the delivery of learning programmes and there was a need to
involved all parties in the planning stages.
Future plans would include a more participative planning process, and meetings
with the premier’s office, all the SETAs and all provincial government
department to align the provincial skills development strategy. In regard to
FET Colleges, it was planned to disseminate all research results on the scarce
and critical skills, to build capacity, to establish partnerships and to
recruit learners to participate in Professional Graduate Certificate in
Education learnerships
Discussion
Ms N Ntwanambi queried the zero achievement in the Limpopo province
with regard to the Education SETA. She also enquired why jobs in the education
sector were only given to the employed, who took up night classes. She asked
how ETDP SETA measured its success rate.
Mrs Nxesi stated that adult learners had been trained to take up jobs in the
education sector but they were used on a part time basis, as employment was the
responsibility of the Department of Education.
Presentation by Energy Sector Education and Training Authority (ESETA)
Mr Bafana Ngwenya (CEO, ESETA) presented the progress report and achievements
for the year 2005/6. He listed the report by province and by learners. He
tabled a provincial spread and equity profile, noting that 119 learners were in
apprenticeships, 1 802 in learnerships, 326 were ABET learners, and 16 were in
skills programmes. Six FET Colleges were accredited and other collaborations
existed in Western Cape, Free State and KwaZulu Natal.
Future plans for the organization include active involvement in the Accelerated
Shared Growth Initiative (ASGISA), by partnerships with various commercial
organizations and programmes. Black Employment Equity programmes would be
promoted. Partnerships would be set up with FET Colleges and higher education
institutions. Whole qualifications would be registered at Masters level.
Memorandums of Understanding would be signed with provincial departments of
education. The learner grant levels would be determined.
Discussion
Mr Hendricks warned all SETAs that they should be careful of short
learnerships as they eventually had their negative effects.
Mr Ngwenya stated that the issue of apprenticeship was not popular in the
energy sector. He commented in general that the Department of Minerals and
Energy was a board member of SETA and all the Department’s activities involved
SETA.
Presentation by Information Systems, Electronics, and Telecommunication
Technologies Sector (ISETT)
Mr Oupa Mopaki (CEO, ISETT) submitted a progress report on targets and
achievements for the 2005/6 year. He noted that 1 994 learners had entered
learnership programmes, 103 were assisted through internships, 92 entered New
Venture Creation programme and 4 institutions were accredited. The ISETT SETA
was active in seven provinces and still awaited an invitation to participate in
skills development forums in Limpopo and Northern Cape.
Equity and gender breakdowns were given, together with a list of the registered
learnerships in different fields. Support to the FET Colleges was also analysed
and explained.
Future plans for the ISETT SETA were to implement learnership and internship
programmes in under-represented provinces, to up-skill and train unplaced
learners, to secure training and placement opportunities for unemployed
graduates, to train 3 000 graduates on intership programmes as part of the
JIPSA (Joint Initiative For Priority Skills
Acquisition) programme.
An amount of R85 million would be required from the National Skills Foundation
to achieve the set objectives.
Mr Mapaki stated that ISETT SETA as a whole received a total grant of
R21billion while R13billion went back to levy paying companies. He stated that
what they used to operate was the 20% discretionary grant they had.
The meeting was adjourned.
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