Question NW2788 to the Minister of Public Works andInfrastructure
05 January 2022 - NW2788
Hendricks, Mr MGE to ask the Minister of Public Works andInfrastructure
(1) Whether, in view of the fact that colleges in the Boland are unable to give feedback to applicants for the 2022 learnership opportunities for early childhood development (ECD) training, which causes much uncertainty amongst youth in need of training to enter the job market, she can provide the reasons for the delay with funding the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what are the reasons that EPWP funding was not allocated towards Levels 1 and 2 for ECD training in the Boland and elsewhere this year; (3) whether she has found that ECD day care facilities are in need of ECD practitioners; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what total (a) amount in EPWP funding is allocated towards Levels 1 to 5 for ECD training and (b) number of ECD practitioners have benefited from the EPWP since its inception; (5) whether the EPWP has a budget for ECD training for January 2022; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) I have been informed by the Department that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) contacted Boland College and it is indeed correct that Boland College is unable to provide feedback to applicants on learnership opportunities. Colleges in the Boland area do not receive their funding directly from the DPWI, but from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). WCED funds these learnerships from various allocations, which are not limited to the EPWP funding. It terms of DPWI records, WCED was eligible for R15,5 million in terms of the social sector incentive grant in 2021/22, of which 100% was transferred to WCED by DPWI and 73% was expensed by WCED, as per the in-year monitoring report provided by WCED to DPWI, at the end of October 2021. Therefore the reason for the delay by WCED is not clear, for WCED has received the entire EPWP Social Sector Incentive Grant allocation for 2021/22.
(2) The DPWI is unable to provide reasons as to why there is no allocation towards Levels 1 and 2 for ECD Training in the Boland area this year, as it is the WCED’s function to allocate funding for ECD training projects.
(3) The DPWI is mandated to be the overall coordinator of the EPWP. The mandate on the delivery of ECD is with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), which has to ensure the training of practitioners, whilst the Department of Social Development is responsible for care and stimulation of children 0-4 years. Therefore, these two departments are better placed to work hand-in-hand in conducting the requisite research to determine the need for ECD practitioners, their level of education and areas where they are to be deployed to ensure efficient and effective ECD service delivery.
(4) DPWI is unable to advise on what the funding allocations towards Levels 1 to 5 for ECD training is. The WCED determines how much of the EPWP Social Sector Incentive Grant is allocated to ECD training. The WCED also, through its own departmental processes, determine the funding criteria and process for ECD Learnerships.
The DPWI is merely the transferring officer for the EPWP Social Sector Incentive Grant and therefore WCED should be able to provide the allocation information for ECD Learnerships.
The DPWI requested the information from the WCED as requested in this Parliamentary Question on Friday, 10 December 2021 and made several follow-ups, without any success.
(5) The DPWI cannot advise on whether there is a training budget in January 2022 for ECD or ECD Learnerships, as DPWI is not responsible for funding ECD or ECD learnerships.