Question NW3516 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
05 December 2018 - NW3516
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)Whether she has found that the public technical and vocational education and training colleges will experience a smooth transition when the term of the current councils expires on 31 March 2019; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) Has a calendar with the time-line for the various actions required by this process been (a) drafted and (b) circulated to public technical and vocational education and training colleges; if not, on what date will the calendar be published; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) (a) what were the reasons for the delay in the appointment of the current members of councils at the beginning of their term in office and (b) which colleges had to operate without a full complement of council members for more than (i) 120 days, (ii) 90 days and (iii) 60 days?
Reply:
- The process to appoint new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college Councils to assume office on 1 April 2019 and 1 May 2019, following the ending of their term on 31 March 2019 and 30 April 2019 respectively, has commenced. Steps have been taken to ensure a smooth transition between outgoing and incoming Councils.
- The Continuing Education and Training (CET) Act, 16 of 2006 (as amended) does not make provision for the development of a calendar with timelines and its circulation to TVET colleges.
- (a) There were delays experienced in the appointment of Council members as a result of the following reasons:
- Low response rate to a call for nominations;
- Incomplete and/or missing documentation from nominees;
- Unavailability of nominees on the contact numbers provided; and
- Delays in the scheduling of appointments for nominees to undergo the vetting process due to either their unavailability or prior commitments.
(b) None of the TVET colleges operated without a full complement of Council member for more than 60, 90 and/or 120 days respectively.