Question NW1874 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration

Reply:

The National School of Government, under the band, Senior Management and Professional Development has developed the Mastering the Art of Government Communications course. This course is intended to ensure training of officials to ensure that the view of government is represented and to avoid situations such as the one that took place in Witbank, Mpumalanga.

The purpose of the course is to equip communication practitioners and managers in the public sector and State Owned Enterprises with the necessary knowledge, skills, and capability to engender a service-oriented culture and ethos by enhancing the understanding of communication processes in government, promoting the production of useful information about how the departments work, encouraging public sector officials to perform professionally, honestly, considerately, and to implement the policies and programmes of Government to improve service delivery.

This course is intended for communicators who are employed in the public sector and state-owned enterprises of South Africa.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

- Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and policy framework governing the work of government communicators.

- Implement communication strategies in a developmental state.

- Implement media ethics and values.

- Understand how to use different communication platforms to promote authentic and

transparent government communication towards building citizens’ trust.

This course is non-credit bearing. The duration of this course is 7 days i.e. 5 days online and contact sessions presented over 2 working days

The National School of Government also offers the e-Learning Ethics in the Public Service course.

The purpose of the course it to help build an ethical culture in the Public Service.

The course is applicable to all public servants.

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

• Reflect on and gain insight into their own values;
• Recognise ethical dilemmas in the work place;
• Apply values, principles and standards contained in Public Service prescripts; and
• Uphold and promote professional ethics in the workplace.

This course is non-credit bearing. Once all course requirements have been met participants will receive a Certificate of Successful Completion

The National School of Government also offers the Know your Constitution online course. This course promotes awareness of the Constitutional provisions in relation to the rights of citizens and obligations and public servants on the provision of public services.

The course is targeted at all officials who are tasked with delivering public servants at all spheres of government.

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

• Explain the intent of the Constitution;
• Appreciate the rights available to all who live in South Africa;
• Describe how government is organised to give effect to human rights;
• Describe and meet the human rights relevant to a job role; and
• Explain how State institutions protect and promote governance and democracy.

The course is available throughout the year and is on a self-enrolment and self-paced delivery mode.

Finally, the National School of Government offers the Public Service Re-Orientation Programme which seeks to remind officials of their constitutional obligations and their mandate as public servants, with the view to build a citizen-centered service ethos, an enthusiasm for public duty and a commitment to improve public service delivery.

Officials who have been in the service for three years or longer are targeted for the course.

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

-Demonstrate an understanding of how global, national and regional events affect service delivery;

- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of unblocking service delivery challenges;

- Apply developmental values, Constitutional principles and citizen-centered approaches in service delivery;

- Demonstrate an understanding of applicable regulatory frameworks, and

-Commit to work with zeal to implement government priorities

The course is not credit bearing and aims to provide a cost-effective, flexible online learning opportunity to large numbers of public servants to develop knowledge, improve competency and enhance practice in the workplace. Participants receive a Certificate of Successful Completion.

It is intended that the above suite of course offerings will close the gap that currently exists in adequately representing the view of the government.

End