Question NW829 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

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05 May 2022 - NW829

Profile picture: King, Ms C

King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

(1)What total number of (a) technical and vocational education and training centres (TVETs) and (b) sector education and training authorities (Setas) students who completed their in-service training in the (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021 academic years are still waiting for certification; (2) whether there is a standard form to be used by TVETs and Setas when completing in-service training; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. (a) Honourable King, there are fifty (50) public Technical Vocational and Education and Training (TVET) Colleges in South Africa with more than 264 campuses spread across the rural and urban areas of the country. To make it easy for the public, we have split them according to the Province each college is located. For example, Eastern Cape 8, Gauteng 8, Free State 4, KZN 9, Limpopo 7, Mpumalanga 3, North West 3, Northern Cape 2 and Western Cape 6.

(b) (i)(ii) Ordinarily the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) do not issue in-service certificates as their main function is to assist with funding. However, when a student completes his/her in-service training with the employer, a report is compiled and submitted to the college so that they can process the issuing of certificates with the department.

(iii) The department has put systems in place in line with policy prescripts for TVET students to apply for and be awarded with level certificates and the National N Diploma (National Nated Diploma – NND) after having met the programme requirements according to the policy. The students are to comply with the minimum requirements for the issuing of certificates on N4, N5 and N6 levels as contemplated in Report 190/191 in line with the National Education Policy, Norms and Standards for the Instructional programmes, Examination and Certification thereof in Technical College Education, Report 190(2000/03). Further, we issued a Memorandum 31 of 2013 to examination officers, examination centres, public and private colleges as well as Umalusi outlining the requirements for the issuing of National Nated Diploma (NND).

Accordingly, only students who meet the requirements will receive the National Nated Diploma for the period in question. Students who do not complete their work experience as indicated in the memorandum we issued, will not receive their diplomas until they complete and apply to the Department of Higher Education and Training to process the application and evaluate compliance with the requirements according to the minimum requirements for the issue of a NND.

It is against this background that my department can only provide the number of students who qualified to be awarded the NND. It often takes time for students to get the relevant workplace placement and they can only submit their applications on completion thereof. The 18 and 24 months required for Business and Engineering Studies respectively, can be achieved over a long period in short stints of work experience given the difficulties of securing workplace experience for all qualifying students. As a result, Honourable King, I have instructed officials within my department as well as colleges to keep data of students who have completed their in-service training and who have qualified to be awarded certificates and diplomas. Currently my department is not in a position to respond adequately on the total number of students who have completed their in-service training and awaiting to be issued with certificates. Going forward, we will track the placement of TVET graduates as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his state of the nation address. As we all know the President has called on the private sector to support wherever possible to not demand experience as a hiring requirement but to give as many young people as possible their first job so they can learn whilst working.

(2) With respect to the availability of the standard form to be used for in-service training, colleges receive applications from students with relevant work experience to evaluate, moderate and issue certificates to those who comply. However, there is a standard log book students use when they are in-service training.

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