Massified Induction Programme: SA Management Development Institute briefing

Meeting report

Massified Induction Programme Report: SA Management Development Institute (SAMDI)  Further briefing.
Mr Rufus Mmutlana, Deputy Director General: Organisational Development & Training Services, SAMDI spoke about the context of wider SAMDI programmes and the origin and recent progress of the Massified Induction Programme (MIP)

Mr Solomon Mogaladi, Director, SAMDI spoke about the eight points that were raised by the stakeholders at the previous roundtable. He touched on the objectives, implementation challenges and mechanism of the MIP. The potential challenges had been identified. The successfully implementation of the Mass Induction Programme was dependent on effective core administration for MIP especially in provinces; availability of adequate financial resources especially printing; and endorsement by provinces and national departments.

SAMDI had taken a number of steps to ensure delivery. These included collective and bilateral workshops with provinces and national departments for information and support; the issuing of the Directive by the Minister for Public Service and Administration in March 2008; and  SAMDI’s communiqué from its DG  to other DGs and Heads of Departments, and their HR functionaries.

Mr Mogaladi then He amplified on the monitoring and evaluation instruments, noting that SAMDI had developed Monitoring and Evaluation instruments. Feedback would be received from trainees, facilitators and monitors through the Reaction Evaluation Questionnaire, Facilitators Evaluation Form and On-site Monitoring Reports. SAMDI’s monitors and provincial implementation teams were being trained on the use of the instruments. There would be quarterly reports as an early warning mechanism to advise on required interventions for improvement.
 
Discussion
The Chairperson said that the Committee should give guidance on further engagement with stakeholders. He then enquired about the role of policymakers in identifying trainers. He asked the manner in which SAMDI assessed the merits of potential trainers.

Mr Mashwahle Diphofa, Deputy Director-General, Office of the Public Service Commission, replied that the bulk of the trainers were selected from the public service in all spheres. Trainers were required to apply, were interviewed and were trained before they started with the job. The policymakers were not included in the selection of trainers.

Mr N Gcwabaza (ANC) enquired about accreditation of the trained people, asking whether there was some sort of certification.

Mr Mogaladi replied that trainees were issued with certificate of attendance after two days of training.

Mr V Gore (ID) asked whether the MIP took into consideration the needs of people with disabilities. He asked whether SAMDI made use of e-learning to reach people in far-flung places.

Mr Mogaladi replied that the SAMDI training academy would look at catering for people with disabilities. He added that the report had indicated that SAMDI had been using e- learning.

Ms P Tshwete (ANC) asked about the measures that were taken that would ensure that people would not emigrate immediately with the valuable skills they had learned. 

Mr Mogaladi replied that vertical migration was a reality in the public service. He cited an example of a person who might move from the Eastern Cape to Limpopo at the same level.

Mr M Matsomela (ANC) asked why there was an increase in the number of people that were trained.

Mr Mogaladi replied that SAMDI trained 100 000 people because this was the number of new recruits a year.

Mr Diphofa said that when SAMDI and the Public Service Commission (PSC) planned for the MIP they had looked at the numbers of new recruits, which was about100 000 new employees. Employees who had been already employed would also then be sent for reorientation.

Mr Matsomela said that SAMDI’s core purpose was to equip public servants with skills that would enable them to deliver service on the ground. The emphasis should be on people who were already in the public service.

Mr K Minnie (DA) asked whether SAMDI trained people from the local government level.

Mr Mmutlana replied that the MIP was one of the many skills development programmes offered by SAMDI. SAMDI had trained all the Supply Chain Management personnel for all municipalities in South Africa.

Mr Mogaladi added that SAMDI was in discussion with the Department of Provincial and Local Government to develop joint training programmes.

Mr Matsomela asked whether SAMDI had programmes that ensured that senior management would be motivated to serve the population with pride.

 Dr Norman Maharaj, Public Service Commissioner, replied that the MIP should ensure that public servants did not fall into the habit of wrong work ethics. Those public servants who had been found to be acting incorrectly should be made to attend orientation programmes.

Mr Mogaladi said that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) would look at all the Members’ concerns during the review process.

Prof Stan Sangweni, Chairperson Public Service Commission thanked the Committee and SAMDI for the work they were doing. He thanked the Sudanese delegates for attending the session.

Adoption of the Fourth Consolidated Public Service Monitoring and Evaluation Report.
Members adopted the report, with minor technical amendments.

Forthcoming workshop
The Chairperson informed members that the Committee would hold a workshop on the Public Administration Management Bill [B47-2008] on 12 and 13 August 2008. He emphasised that members should look at the Bill for the purpose of classification within three days.
 
The meeting was adjourned.